Special Counsel Smith seeks to dismiss Jan. 6 charges against Trump
Special Counsel Jack Smith is seeking to have all charges against President-elect Donald Trump dropped in connection to his investigation into the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach. The request to dismiss the charges must be approved by Judge Tanya Chutkan before the case can be officially closed.
Following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Smith indicated his intention to wind down the case against Trump. The filing requesting the dismissal of charges was submitted to the Department of Justice docket on Monday afternoon.
Previously, Smith had filed a motion to extend all deadlines in the 2020 election interference case against Trump in Washington, D.C. This move was widely anticipated, but it did not entail dropping the case entirely. Smith had announced that an updated report on the status of the case against Trump would be provided on Dec. 2.
In response to the charges, Trump pleaded not guilty and brought the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court, citing presidential immunity as his defense. The Supreme Court ruled that Trump was immune from prosecution for official presidential actions, prompting Smith to file a new indictment. Trump maintained his not guilty plea for the new charges as well. Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team has been pushing to have the election interference charges in Washington, D.C. dismissed on the grounds that Smith’s appointment was unlawful.
Smith’s case concerning Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents was previously dismissed by a federal judge who deemed Smith’s appointment as special counsel to be illegal. An appeal is still pending in that case, but it is possible that Smith may also drop it.
In response to the latest developments, a statement from Trump’s spokesman and incoming White House communications director, Steven Cheung, celebrated the DOJ’s decision to end the federal cases against Trump as a victory for the rule of law and the American people’s desire to end the politicization of the justice system.
Trump has maintained his not guilty plea for all charges brought against him as a result of Smith’s investigations. It is anticipated that Smith will step down as special counsel before Trump assumes office.
As this story continues to unfold, stay tuned for updates on the latest developments.
Author: Brooke Singman, Political Correspondent and Reporter for Fox News Digital, Fox News Channel, and FOX Business.
