Special counsel Jack Smith, who investigated Donald Trump’s attempts to invalidate the 2020 presidential election outcome, is no longer with the U.S. Department of Justice. In a filing in court, it was revealed that Smith completed his work and submitted a final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and left the department on January 10.
In a filing to US District Judge Aileen Cannon, the officials asked her not to extend her recent order temporarily banning the unsealing of Smith’s report. This development with Smith’s departure was footnoted; meanwhile, Judge Cannon weighs whether to keep under seal the special counsel’s report in two of the most highly publicized cases involving Trump: his part in the January 6, 2020 insurrection at the US Capitol and the case about Trump holding onto classified documents after he left office.
The legal fight over these Trump-related cases heats up with the current hold on the report due to expire shortly, coinciding with the week leading up to Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president on January 20.
Trump wrote in a late-night post on his Truth Social that Smith had been “fired” by the Department of Justice and called him a “disgrace.” Trump lambasted the investigation as an over-costly “Witch Hunt.” “After spending more than $100,000,000 on the Witch Hunt against TRUMP, he left town empty handed!” Trump exclaimed.
Smith’s probe had charged Trump with conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding during the Congressional session meant to certify Joe Biden’s election victory, which was violently interrupted by a mob of Trump supporters on January 6. After Trump’s victory in November, Smith decided to dismiss the charges against him.
On Jan. 7, Smith finished his classified report for Attorney General Merrick Garland, who intends to make the findings public, Justice Department officials said. They have said Judge Cannon has no power to block the attorney general from releasing Smith’s report.
