Donald Trump has alleged that "deranged" Jack Smith was fired from his position as special counsel by the Department of Justice (DOJ) ahead of Trump's anticipated return to office. This claim contradicts the official statement that Smith, who led two major criminal investigations into Trump, resigned from the DOJ on Friday.
As special counsel, Smith oversaw the investigations into Trump's alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results and his improper retention of classified documents. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all federal charges. Smith sought to drop both investigations following Trump's 2024 election victory, in line with a DOJ policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents.
In a post on Truth Social early Sunday morning, Trump asserted that Smith had been "fired" after "leaving town empty-handed," implying that Smith had failed to secure any federal prosecutions against him. Official documents filed on Saturday, however, confirmed that Smith resigned, and a judge dismissed the case involving classified documents against Trump. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that Smith's appointment as special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 was unlawful because it hadn't been approved by the Senate.
The DOJ contended that Judge Cannon had exceeded her authority by blocking the release of Smith's final report on the investigations into the election and classified documents. The DOJ maintains that Garland has the sole authority to decide on the report’s release. The resignation of Smith was noted in a footnote of court filings, with prior reports indicating he would step down before Trump's return to office on January 20.
Smith’s final confidential report on the Trump investigations was submitted to Garland on January 7, 2025, and Smith formally separated from the DOJ on January 10.
Trump, in his Truth Social post, said: "Deranged Jack Smith was fired today by the DOJ. He is a disgrace to himself, his family, and his country. After spending over $100,000,000 on the witch hunt against Trump, he left town empty-handed!"
In response, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff tweeted: "Jack Smith did his duty. And the public deserves to see the product of his work and that of his team. Before Trump can follow through on his promise to bury it. The system of justice failed to treat Donald Trump as any other defendant and deliver timely justice. But it is not too late to deliver the measure of accountability that comes from disclosure."
The court order blocking the release of Smith's report is set to expire on Monday. Garland has indicated that parts of Smith's report regarding the January 6 Capitol attack will be released, though the section concerning classified documents will remain withheld to protect the ongoing cases against Trump's associates, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who face charges related to obstruction.
Once in office, Trump may direct his attorney general pick, Pam Bondi, to dismiss the case against Nauta and De Oliveira.
He is a loser, big time!
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