DOJ releases Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on Trump election interference case
The Justice Department has publicly released Volume I of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report on his investigations into President-elect Donald Trump, just days before Trump is set to be sworn into office. Attorney General Merrick Garland made the decision to release the first volume, which focuses on the election case against Trump, after a back-and-forth battle in the federal court system.
In an opening letter from Smith to Garland, he dismissed Trump’s claims that the Biden administration or other political actors influenced his decisions as a prosecutor. Smith emphasized that he was guided by the Principles of Federal Prosecution, stating that Trump’s cases were the most flagrant, causing the greatest public harm, and with the most certain proof.
The report detailed how Trump resorted to criminal efforts to retain power after losing the 2020 election. Smith stood behind the decision to bring criminal charges against Trump, noting that the former president’s actions were a threat to democracy.
The report also revealed that the Department determined that the case against Trump must be dismissed before he takes office, citing constitutional reasons. The Department’s view is that the Constitution prohibits the indictment and prosecution of a sitting President, regardless of the gravity of the charges.
Jack Smith, a former assistant U.S. attorney and chief of the DOJ’s public integrity section, was appointed as special counsel by Garland in November 2022. Smith led investigations into Trump’s retention of classified documents and whether he obstructed the federal government’s investigation. The probe also looked into allegations of interference in the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election.
Although Smith charged Trump in both cases, the charges were never brought to trial. A federal judge in Florida dismissed the classified records case, ruling that Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel. In a separate case in Washington D.C., the charges were dismissed after Trump was elected president.
Despite efforts by Trump’s legal team to prevent the release of the report, Garland remained committed to making at least one volume of Smith’s report public. The report uncovered the extent of Trump’s actions and the threats they posed to the democratic process.
As Trump prepares to take office, the release of Volume I of Smith’s report sheds light on the investigations into his conduct, providing a detailed account of the charges brought against him. The Justice Department’s decision to release the report underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in upholding the rule of law.
