Special Counsel Jack Smith’s resignation from the Department of Justice may mark the end of his role, but the impact of his divisive and politically charged tenure will linger for years to come. Rather than serving as a neutral arbiter of justice, Smith’s approach to prosecuting President-elect Donald Trump has left a stain on the DOJ’s reputation, further eroding public trust in the institution.

Special Counsel Jack Smith officially resigned from the Department of Justice on Friday, marking the end of his controversial tenure overseeing two of the most politically charged investigations in recent American history.

The Justice Department revealed Smith’s departure in a court filing Saturday, noting that he:

“completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and separated from the Department on January 10.” 

The timing of his exit comes just days after submitting a two-volume final report to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Smith’s resignation caps a tumultuous period that saw him bring unprecedented criminal charges against a former president and current president-elect Donald Trump. His departure comes at a critical moment, as the DOJ is currently battling in court to release his final report despite opposition from Trump’s former co-defendants and Judge Aileen Cannon’s Tuesday order blocking its release.

The two-volume report Smith submitted before his exit covers both major investigations he led. Volume One focuses on the January 6th investigation in Washington, D.C., while Volume Two addresses the classified documents case related to the raid of Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. 

The DOJ is now pushing to make Volume One public and share Volume Two with select members of Congress, despite ongoing legal challenges. The timeline of his resignation – submitting the report and departing within days – has drawn attention as to whether the report was rushed to completion before Trump returns to office on January 20.

Smith’s tenure as Special Counsel was marked by aggressive prosecution strategies and swift indictments that drew harsh criticism from those who viewed his investigations as politically motivated. His resignation marks the end of one of the most controversial special counsel appointments in DOJ history, leaving behind a legacy of ineliminable marks on the American perception of “justice.”

The Department of Justice now faces the challenge of managing the aftermath of Smith’s investigations while navigating complex legal battles over the release of his final report. 

The impact of Smith’s work – and the contents of his final report – remain at the center of intense political and legal debate. With Smith’s departure, attention now turns to the courts, where judges will ultimately decide the fate of his final report and its potential impact on future proceedings. 

Smith’s abrupt resignation, coming just days after rushing out his final report, adds to growing concerns about the Biden Justice Department’s use of special counsels as political weapons against their opponents. 

Smith’s departure leaves behind serious questions about the weaponization of federal law enforcement and the politicization of justice in America.