President-elect Donald Trump fiercely attacked former Special Counsel Jack Smith after the latter’s final report on his investigation and prosecution of the former president was published.
Special Counsel Smith had prosecuted President Trump for the latter’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and wrongfully retaining classified documents.
Smith dropped charges against Trump following the latter’s re-election last November given the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) tradition of not prosecuting sitting presidents.
However, Smith’s latest report brandishes confidence that Trump, had he not been re-elected, would have been convicted and criminally sentenced.
Smith stands “fully behind” his charges against Trump and lamented being unable to convict Trump, claiming “experienced prosecutors know that you cannot control outcomes, you can only do your job the right way for the right reasons.”
Shortly following Smith’s report’s release, Trump belittled Smith as “a lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the Election, which I won in a landslide.”
Trump added that Smith “was unable to successfully prosecute the Political Opponent of his “boss,” Crooked Joe Biden.”
Smith qualified Trump’s attacks and insinuations that his prosecution was politically motivated as “laughable.”
Smith may have dropped charges, but his case leaves the door open for future prosecution, as his filing to dismiss the charges “without prejudice” means that Trump could still be prosecuted once he leaves office.
For now, the charges’ dismissal marks the end of a legal saga that saw charges brought, dismissed, and revived in a highly political criminal proceeding.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court tossed special counsel Smith’s case, arguing Trump is immune from criminal prosecution for official acts.
Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts argued President Trump has immunity for his "official" acts as president.
Smith later circumvented the court by charging Trump, in his personal capacity, for allegedly committing conspiracy to defraud the US by attempting to reverse election results in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
