The Justice Department publicly released Volume I of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report on his investigations into President-elect Donald Trump, just days before Trump’s presidential inauguration.
Attorney General Merrick Garland released the first volume focusing on the election case against Trump on Tuesday at midnight, following legal battles in federal court.
An opening letter from Smith to Garland highlighted that Trump’s belief in political influence on prosecutorial decisions is “laughable,” emphasizing adherence to the Principles of Federal Prosecution.
Smith referenced these principles, stating that Trump’s cases involved “the most flagrant offenses, the greatest public harm, and certain proof.”
FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH FROM RELEASING FINAL REPORT
A split image featuring US Attorney General Merrick Garland, President Donald Trump and Special Counsel Jack Smith (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images | Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Smith affirmed the decision to bring criminal charges against Trump for using criminal efforts to retain power post the 2020 election loss in the comprehensive report.
He mentioned that as Trump won the 2024 election, the department decided to dismiss the case before he took office based on constitutional interpretations.
The report emphasized that the Constitution bars the continued indictment and prosecution of a President, a stance the Office fully supports despite the gravity of the charged crimes.
Trump criticized Smith for releasing “fake findings” in the middle of the night in a post on Truth Social.
APPEALS COURT WILL NOT BLOCK PARTIAL RELEASE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH’S TRUMP REPORT
Garland appointed former Justice Department official Jack Smith as special counsel in November 2022.
Smith led investigations into Trump’s retention of classified documents post presidency and potential obstruction of investigations.
Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Smith also oversaw an investigation into potential interference in the peaceful transition of power post the 2020 election and the certification of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump was charged by Smith in both cases, but pleaded not guilty.
FLASHBACK: ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND NAMES SPECIAL COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE TRUMP ON MAR-A-LAGO DOCUMENTS, JAN. 6
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified records case in July 2024, citing an unlawful appointment of Smith as special counsel.
Special Prosecutor Jack Smith recently requested to dismiss charges he brought against Trump in a case alleging his interference in the certification of the 2020 election. (Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Smith charged Trump in Washington D.C. for his actions following the 2020 election but sought to dismiss the case after Trump’s election. The request was granted by Judge Tanya Chutkan.
FLASHBACK: TRUMP SAYS HE ‘WON’T PARTAKE’ IN SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATION, SLAMS AS ‘WORST POLITICIZATION OF JUSTICE’
Cannon temporarily blocked the release of Smith’s final report, later reversed by a federal appeals court, allowing its public release by the Justice Department.
Former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
In the classified records probe, Smith charged Trump with multiple federal counts, to which Trump pleaded not guilty.
