Special Counsel Jack Smith to Resign Before Trump Inauguration

Special Counsel Jack Smith plans to resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January 2025, amid ongoing investigations into Trump's handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Following Trump's decisive victory in the 2024 election, Smith requested a pause in proceedings to evaluate this 'unprecedented circumstance' and intends to provide a status report to the court by December 2, 2024. Smith aims to complete his work and file a report summarizing his findings before Trump assumes the presidency, as Trump has previously vowed to fire him immediately upon taking office. Despite the challenges faced during the investigations, Smith's resignation is seen as a way to avoid potential conflicts with the incoming administration. The Justice Department's policy has historically restricted prosecuting sitting presidents, which further complicates the situation. The timeline for making Smith's findings public remains uncertain as the transition of power approaches.