Special Counsel Jack Smith has resigned from the Department of Justice, effective January 10, 2025.
Court filings submitted to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon confirmed his departure and stated that he completed his final confidential report shortly before stepping down.
Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022, spearheaded two criminal cases against Trump—one for alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and another concerning the mishandling of classified documents.
Both cases were dropped following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. Neither case reached trial, with Trump pleading not guilty to all charges and consistently denouncing the prosecutions as politically motivated attempts to damage his campaign.
Trump’s legal troubles, which included these federal charges and separate cases in New York and Georgia, became a focal point of his 2024 campaign.
The president-elect raised millions in contributions by framing the cases as part of a broader political agenda against him and his supporters. Trump has repeatedly called Smith “deranged” and vowed to fire him upon taking office—a pledge that now appears moot following Smith’s resignation.
Smith’s tenure was marked by significant challenges and controversies.
In the classified documents case, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the charges in July, citing Smith’s alleged improper appointment.
Meanwhile, in the election case, legal proceedings stalled as Trump’s defense argued for presidential immunity. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately sided with Trump on key aspects of the immunity claim, further complicating Smith’s efforts.
Smith’s investigations into Trump have drawn sharp criticism from Trump’s allies, while his supporters defend the charges as a legitimate attempt to hold powerful figures accountable.
In court filings, Smith’s team argued that their cases were legally sound but ultimately untenable under Justice Department rules prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president.
The resignation of the former war crimes prosecutor signals a broader unraveling of the legal challenges Trump faced after leaving office.
Trump has labeled Smith’s efforts as failures, claiming on Truth Social that the prosecutor “destroyed the lives of many people and families” without achieving meaningful results.
Despite Smith’s exit, some elements of his investigations remain unresolved.
Prosecutors continue to pursue charges against two Trump associates implicated in the classified documents case. Meanwhile, the DOJ has declined to release parts of Smith’s final report tied to the 2020 election probe, citing ongoing legal proceedings involving Trump’s former co-defendants.
With Trump set to take office again, the conclusion of these legal battles prompts significant questions about their impact on American politics and the justice system.
Jack Smith’s resignation marks the close of a controversial chapter, leaving many to consider the lasting effects of these unprecedented prosecutions on institutional integrity and political dynamics.