Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, has resigned, as he had previously indicated he would step down before Donald J. Trump’s inauguration.
Jack Smith, Special Counsel in Trump Prosecutions, Resigns
Jack Smith, the special counsel who led two unsuccessful federal prosecutions against President-elect Donald J. Trump, resigned this week, as revealed in a brief mention at the bottom of a legal filing.
Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor, had faced a lengthy legal battle against Trump’s legal team, culminating in defeats in both appellate courts and the Supreme Court. He officially left his position in Washington on Friday, according to a senior law enforcement official.
Smith’s departure had been anticipated, as he had indicated plans to step down before Trump, who had previously threatened to dismiss him, took office on January 20. His final week included yet another legal setback, this time at the hands of Judge Aileen M. Cannon, a Trump appointee overseeing the Florida documents case. Judge Cannon temporarily blocked the public release of Smith’s final report.
The conclusion of Smith’s tenure was marked by a single line in a filing to Judge Cannon: “The special counsel completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on Jan. 7, 2025, and separated from the department on Jan. 10.”
