Department of Justice (DOJ) Special Counsel Jack Smith withdrew from the classified documents case involving President-elect Donald Trump on Monday.
Why It Matters
Smith charged Trump with illegally storing classified documents at the former president’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, after leaving the White House in 2021 and resisting federal efforts to retrieve the files. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges, maintains his innocence and has accused Smith of targeting him for political purposes.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who oversaw the case, dismissed it in July, arguing Smith was unlawfully appointed to lead the investigation. Trump critics have expressed outrage that Trump will not face trial in the case, while others have backed Trump’s claims that the DOJ targeted him for political reasons.
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What to Know
Smith filed a motion on Monday to formally withdraw from the case, while handing over its remnants to other prosecutors for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Smith initially sought to appeal Cannon’s dismissal of the case but asked the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to drop his appeal after Trump’s victory, as the DOJ has rules prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president.
Smith also dropped a separate case into the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol building. Trump had said he would fire Smith when he returns to the White House if he didn’t close the cases himself.
Newsweek reached out to the DOJ for comment via email on Monday afternoon.
This is a developing story that will be updated when more information becomes available.
