DOJ Special Counsel Smith Dismisses Federal Criminal Charges Against Trump

WASHINGTON — The federal election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump has been dismissed, at least for now. Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the ruling late Monday after a request from U.S. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith to drop the case without prejudice, allowing for potential future prosecution once Trump’s presidency concludes.

Trump faced four felony counts concerning fraud and obstruction tied to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, which culminated in the events of January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol.

In tandem, Smith sought to dismiss a separate Florida case involving Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents. In his statement, Smith noted that prosecuting an incoming president would be unconstitutional, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the situation. “The Department and the country have never faced the circumstance here, where a federal indictment against a private citizen has been returned by a grand jury and a criminal prosecution is already underway when the defendant is elected President,” he stated in his court filing.

Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023, with a subsequent superseding indictment issued shortly after. Despite the dismissal, Smith affirmed that the Justice Department remains steadfast in its beliefs regarding Trump’s actions, emphasizing that while circumstances have evolved, the foundation of the case remains solid.

A representative for Trump described Smith’s decision as a significant win for the rule of law. “The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director.

The issue of prosecuting a president is not new to U.S. history; it has been raised during the tenures of Richard Nixon in 1973 and Bill Clinton in 2000. In both scenarios, the Justice Department cited constitutional constraints as a barrier to prosecution, indicating a need to protect a sitting president’s ability to govern.

Regarding the classified documents case, Smith has requested the court drop its appeal to pursue charges against Trump. Judge Aileen Cannon previously dismissed the case in July. However, the special counsel intends to continue legal action against Trump’s co-defendants, Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Olivera, who are also implicated in the mishandling of classified materials.

These federal investigations are part of four criminal cases Trump is confronting while campaigning for another presidential term. He made headlines earlier this year as the first former president to be convicted of a crime, with a guilty verdict on 34 counts related to falsifying business records in New York. His sentencing, originally set for Tuesday, has now been indefinitely postponed.

Meanwhile, Trump’s criminal investigation in Georgia appears stalled due to an ongoing dispute concerning the prosecutor’s ethics. Although charges against Trump may be dropped, the state may still proceed with its case against 14 other co-defendants.

Last updated 3:35 p.m., Nov. 25, 2024