Following the resignation of Special Counsel Jack Smith, President-elect Donald Trump has publicly denounced Smith, labeling him a "disgrace." Smith's departure from the Department of Justice was officially documented in a court filing on Saturday, stating that he concluded his work and delivered his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, leaving the Department on January 10.
Trump responded to the news via Truth Social on Sunday, sharply criticizing Smith's investigations into him. Trump declared, "Deranged Jack Smith was fired today by the DOJ. He is a disgrace to himself, his family, and his Country. After squandering over $100,000,000 on the Witch Hunt against TRUMP, he left with nothing!"
Appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022, Smith was tasked with investigating Trump's involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot and his handling of classified documents. Smith had previously served as acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee during Trump's initial term in 2017.
This resignation precedes the public release of Smith's report on Trump's connection to the Capitol attack. A recent court filing indicates that Garland intends to release the report in the near future, potentially before Trump's inauguration. Garland has affirmed his commitment to maximizing the public availability of the report while adhering to legal and departmental guidelines.
A federal appeals court judge ruled on Friday against suppressing the release of Smith's report. Following Trump's election victory in November, Smith submitted motions to conclude his legal pursuits against the then-president-elect. In late November, Smith requested the dismissal of charges against Trump related to the Capitol riot. He had previously filed a motion to void all deadlines in the case, a move widely anticipated after Trump's win.
Following the dismissal of the cases, Trump asserted they were baseless and should never have been initiated, describing them as a "political hijacking" and a "low point" in American history. He emphasized his perseverance and victory despite these challenges.
