WASHINGTON, DC, USA — Special Counsel Jack Smith has announced the dismissal of the federal election subversion case against President-elect Donald Trump.
The decision, filed with the court on Monday, November 25, 2024, marks the conclusion of a two-year-long investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
In a six-page court filing, Smith explained the reasoning behind the decision, citing constitutional constraints.
“The (Justice) Department’s position is that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” Smith wrote.
“This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant.”
Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The president-elect previously stated he would fire Smith upon retaking office, breaking traditional norms surrounding special counsel investigations.
A Landmark Legal Chapter
The investigation into Trump’s alleged election subversion and mishandling of classified documents has been one of the most extraordinary chapters in U.S. history.
Never before has a former president faced federal criminal charges, let alone while campaigning for reelection.
Smith’s filing highlighted that the Department of Justice’s position on the merits of the case remains unchanged.
However, the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling this summer, granting Trump partial presidential immunity, complicated the prosecution.
Trump’s legal strategy of delaying proceedings further ensured that the case never reached trial before the November election.
In the Washington, D.C., case, Trump was charged with orchestrating efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.
The filing comes after U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan had been weighing how much of Trump’s conduct could be shielded by immunity.
State Prosecutions to Proceed
While the federal case has been dismissed, state-level prosecutions in Georgia and New York remain ongoing.
As president, Trump will not have the authority to interfere with these cases, though legal complexities around immunity and executive privilege may still arise.
In New York, Trump faces charges stemming from 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment during the 2016 campaign.
Though convicted earlier this year, his sentencing has been postponed indefinitely.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, Trump is a defendant in a sprawling racketeering case that alleges he and several associates attempted to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.
The legal battle is expected to continue despite his return to the White House.
A Political and Legal Crossroads
The dismissal of the federal case represents a significant, albeit controversial, legal and political development.
Smith’s investigation, described as an extraordinary effort to hold a former president accountable, now shifts focus to how state-level prosecutions will proceed under the weight of Trump’s presidency.
As the president-elect prepares to take office in January, the intersection of his legal troubles and political ambitions underscores the unprecedented nature of this moment in American history.
