By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Special Counsel Jack Smith has resigned from the Department of Justice (DOJ) following the completion of his two criminal investigations into President-elect Donald Trump.
His departure was noted in a court filing submitted on Saturday to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon of Florida.
Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022, officially stepped down on January 10, 2025, just days before Trump’s inauguration.
“The Special Counsel completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and separated from the Department on January 10,” the filing revealed.
Smith’s resignation was anticipated following Trump’s reelection in November 2024. Both cases against Trump were dismissed due to a DOJ policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president.
Trump had frequently criticized Smith, vowing to dismiss him upon assuming office and stating Smith should be “thrown out of the country.”
In the filing, DOJ officials urged Judge Cannon not to extend her temporary order blocking the DOJ from releasing Smith’s investigation into Trump’s alleged interference in the 2020 election results.
Former co-defendants of Trump have also requested that the order be extended, seeking to prevent Attorney General Garland from releasing parts of Smith’s report to Congress.
The DOJ, however, filed an emergency motion late Friday, appealing to a federal court to overturn the order and expedite the release of Smith’s report.
Smith began his legal career in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and later joined the DOJ. Known for his meticulous approach, he gained recognition for handling complex corruption and fraud cases throughout his career.
