Special Counsel Jack Smith Resigns and Leaves U.S. Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration

Victor Itodo Abuh January 13, 2025

Special Counsel Jack Smith Resigns and Leaves U.S. Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration

Jack Smith, the special counsel who led key prosecutions against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has resigned from his position and left the country just days before Trump’s January 20 inauguration.

Documents submitted to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon revealed that Smith completed his work on January 7 and officially exited the U.S. Department of Justice on January 10 after submitting his final confidential report.

Smith, appointed in November 2022, oversaw investigations into Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office and his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Following Trump’s victory in the November 5 presidential election, Smith dropped the cases, citing a Department of Justice rule that prevents prosecuting a sitting president.

While requesting the courts to dismiss the charges, Smith’s legal team acknowledged the validity of the cases but stated that the legal proceedings could not continue due to Trump’s imminent return to office.

This development effectively ends legal proceedings against Trump, ensuring he can assume the presidency without facing prosecution.

Trump, who had previously threatened to fire Smith upon returning to power, now begins his second term free of legal entanglements.