WASHINGTON – Special counsel Jack Smith resigned from the Justice Department on Friday, officials said in a court filing Saturday.
The move was expected before President-elect Donald Trump was sworn in.
Smith’s report on Trump’s alleged involvement in 2020 election interference is expected to be released soon. Trump has denied the allegations.
“The special counsel completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025 and separated from the Department on January 10,” a government court filing said in a footnote.
The footnote was part of a Justice Department filing in which the government asked U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, not to extend a restriction temporarily blocking the release of part of Smith’s report. .
Trump had been indicted on charges related to allegations that he attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He had pleaded not guilty before the case was dropped. The federal charges, brought by Smith, were dismissed after Trump was elected in 2024. The Justice Department has a long-standing policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.
Smith was appointed in November 2022 by Attorney General Merrick Garland. He oversaw investigations into Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, as well as allegations that he mishandled classified documents.
The former president was also charged in the classified documents case, although Cannon dismissed the case in July 2024, ruling that Smith was illegally appointed and funded. Trump had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The president-elect frequently criticized Smith, saying in October that he would “fire him within two seconds” of taking office.
A Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
