In a stunning turn of events, special counsel Jack Smith has requested that Judge Tanya Chutkan end the Biden-Harris Department of Justice (DOJ)’s January 6 case against President-elect Donald Trump. Judge Chutkan promptly canceled all deadlines and proceedings related to the case, effectively closing a chapter in the DOJ’s legal battle against the former president.
Smith’s motion marks a symbolic victory for Trump, who faced numerous lawsuits during his campaign to return to the White House. With Trump now elected as the 47th President of the United States, Smith’s pursuit of a conviction has hit an insurmountable roadblock. DOJ policy generally prohibits the prosecution of a sitting president, and the case was unlikely to conclude before Trump’s inauguration in January.
In his motion to the court, Smith acknowledged the changed political landscape, writing, “I respectfully request that the Court vacate the remaining deadlines in the pretrial schedule to afford the Government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.”
The term “unprecedented circumstance” aptly describes both Trump’s political comeback and the nature of Smith’s legal campaign against him. Trump has long argued that the prosecutions were politically motivated, aimed at preventing his return to the Oval Office. In the end, these efforts proved ineffective.
Smith’s case in Florida concerning Trump’s possession of classified documents had already been dismissed, with a judge ruling that Attorney General Merrick Garland’s appointment of Smith was unconstitutional. Legal analysts suggested that this ruling could have undermined Smith’s January 6 case as well, but the election result has made further proceedings unnecessary.
Smith informed Judge Chutkan that he would “file a status report or otherwise inform the Court of the result of its deliberations” by December 2, 2024, although the likelihood of any viable path forward for the prosecution appears slim.
The implications for Smith could extend beyond the courtroom. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Administration Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Barry Loudermilk have already sent a letter to Smith instructing him to preserve all records related to his investigations. The move signals potential future inquiries into the conduct and motivations behind the DOJ’s actions against Trump.
For Trump, the dismissal of the case is another victory as he prepares to assume office once again. The collapse of Smith’s prosecution underscores the resilience of Trump’s legal strategy and signals the end of what many have viewed as a politically charged effort to derail his presidential bid.