Special counsel Jack Smith resigns after submitting Trump report
Share and Follow


WASHINGTON (AP) Special counsel Jack Smith has resigned from the Justice Department after submitting his investigative report on President-elect Donald Trump, an expected move that comes amid legal wrangling over how much of that document can be made public in the days ahead.

The department disclosed Smith’s departure in a court filing Saturday, saying he had resigned one day earlier. The resignation, 10 days before Trump is inaugurated , follows the conclusion of two unsuccessful criminal prosecutions against Trump that were withdrawn following Trump’s White House win in November.

At issue now is the fate of a two-volume report that Smith and his team had prepared about their twin investigations into Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of his 2020 election and his hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

The Justice Department had been expected to make the document public in the final days of the Biden administration, but the Trump-appointed judge who presided over the classified documents case granted a defense request to at least temporarily halt its release. Two of Trump’s co-defendants in that case, Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira, had argued that the release of the report would be unfairly prejudicial, an argument that the Trump legal team joined in.

The department responded by saying that it would withhold from public release the classified documents volume as long as criminal proceedings against Nauta and De Oliveira remain pending. Though U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon had dismissed the case last July, a Smith team appeal of that decision related to the two co-defendants remained pending.

But prosecutors said they intended to proceed with the release of the election interference volume.

In an emergency motion late Friday, they asked the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to swiftly lift an injunction from Cannon that had barred them from releasing any portion of the report. They separately told Cannon on Saturday that she had no authority to halt the release of the report, but she responded with an order directing prosecutors to file an additional brief by Sunday.

The appeals court on Thursday night denied an emergency defense bid to block the release of the election interference report, which covers Trump’s efforts before Capitol riot Jan. 6, 2021, to undo the results of the 2020 election. But it left in place Cannon’s injunction that said none of the findings could be released until three days after the matter was resolved by the appeals court.

The Justice Department told the appeals court in its emergency motion that Cannon’s order was “plainly erroneous.”

“The Attorney General is the Senate-confirmed head of the Department of Justice and is vested with the authority to supervise all officers and employees of the Department,” the Justice Department said. “The Attorney General thus has authority to decide whether to release an investigative report prepared by his subordinates.”

Justice Department regulations call for special counsels to produce reports at the conclusion of their work, and it’s customary for such documents to be made public no matter the subject.

William Barr, attorney general during Trump’s first term, released a special counsel report examining Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and potential ties to the Trump campaign.

Biden’s attorney general, Merrick Garland, has also released special counsel reports, including about Biden’s handling of classified information before Biden became president.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Moment Huntingdon train knife attack suspect is wrestled to the floor

Suspect in Huntingdon Train Knife Attack Subdued by Bystanders

This dramatic scene unfolded at the Huntingdon train station as one of…
Trump congratulates Dodgers on World Series win: 'SEE YOU ALL AT THE WHITE HOUSE!!!'

Trump Invites World Series Champion Dodgers to White House Celebration After Historic Win

In a celebratory message on Sunday, President Trump extended his congratulations to…
The unsolved sleepover massacre that haunts an Iowa town

Chilling Unsolved Sleepover Massacre Continues to Haunt Iowa Town: A Deep Dive into a Decades-Old Mystery

The eerie, unresolved case of a couple and six children’s murders has…
Schools tackle food insecurity as SNAP benefits teeter

Schools Step Up to Combat Food Insecurity Amid Uncertain SNAP Benefits

Schools across the nation are on high alert as the looming depletion…
Trump makes romantic confession about Melania at Halloween party

Trump’s Heartfelt Halloween Confession: Melania’s Enduring Influence on His Life

During a glamorous Halloween party, former President Donald Trump expressed a wish…
Hermosillo, Sonora fire: Explosion at store in northwestern Mexico leave at least 23 dead and a dozen injured

Tragic Explosion in Hermosillo: Deadly Fire Claims 23 Lives in Northwestern Mexico

Sunday, November 2, 2025 1:57PM A fire and explosion at a convenience…
Dexter Lawrence makes Giants hopes clear before trade deadline looms

Dexter Lawrence Sets Clear Expectations for Giants Ahead of Trade Deadline

Dexter Lawrence has made it clear: he’s committed to sticking with the…
Blue Jays fans distraught after dramatic World Series loss to Dodgers

Heartbreak for Blue Jays Fans as Dodgers Clinch World Series Victory

Toronto Blue Jays supporters were left heartbroken on Saturday night as their…