Jack Smith, the special counsel who led the investigations into former President Donald Trump, has stepped down from his role at the US Justice Department. Smith's departure comes after Trump's reelection, and it's unclear what impact this will have on the ongoing investigations.¹
Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to oversee the criminal investigations into Trump's handling of classified documents and his alleged role in interfering with the 2020 presidential election.² During his tenure, Smith's team gathered evidence and built cases against Trump, but the former president's reelection has raised questions about the future of these investigations.
The Justice Department has a policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents, which could potentially shield Trump from prosecution. However, Smith's report on the investigations, which was released recently, concluded that there was enough evidence to obtain and sustain a conviction against Trump.³
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has characterized the investigations as a "witch hunt." His reelection has emboldened him to take a more aggressive approach to the Justice Department, and it's possible that he may try to intervene in the ongoing investigations or even pardon himself.
The implications of Smith's departure are still unclear, but it's likely that the investigations will continue under new leadership. The Justice Department has not yet announced who will take over Smith's role or how the investigations will proceed.
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