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Jack Smith has decided to close his business, feeling more defeated by voters than by jurors. The special counsel’s departure will leave a complicated impact, as he gathered a lot of evidence against Donald J. Trump but ultimately lost important legal fights that may impact future investigations.
Written by Devlin Barrett, Glenn Thrush, and Alan Feuer.
Jack Smith came to Washington nearly two years ago with hopes that his job investigating Donald J. Trump would have a significant impact. However, instead of finishing his assignment with a win in court, he is leaving following a loss primarily decided by voters.
An individual named Mr. Smith brought forth two legal charges against former President Trump, marking the first time such action has been taken against a former president. Mr. Smith’s efforts to bring these cases to trial were made more challenging by court decisions that were not in his favor, and were ultimately halted by Mr. Trump’s victory in the election. It is a common practice for the Justice Department to refrain from prosecuting a president who is currently in office.
Mr. Smith’s investigation is leaving a lasting impact, as legal experts commend him for conducting a well-organized investigation and gathering substantial evidence to support the charges he filed.
However, legal disputes arising from his cases have placed limitations on the Justice Department’s ability to hold presidents responsible. Despite Mr. Smith’s attempts to keep his work separate from politics, Mr. Trump effectively positioned the voters as a barrier between himself and federal prosecutors.
On Monday, Mr. Smith emphasized in court documents that he stands by the evidence he collected and the charges he brought forward. Sources familiar with his intentions say he intends to depart from the Justice Department before Mr. Trump’s inauguration as president, likely after submitting a final report on his investigations.
However, despite presenting detailed evidence against Mr. Trump in the cases he filed, which included accusations of mishandling classified documents and conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results, they are expected to be equally remembered for the unexpected outcomes they brought about.
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