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DOJ to End Trump Prosecutions; Special Counsel Jack Smith to Step Down Before Inauguration

Nov 6, 2024, 06:51 PM

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is evaluating how to wind down the two federal criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office on January 20, according to multiple sources including NBC News, ABC News, and Fox News reports. This move aligns with longstanding DOJ policy that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has been leading prosecutions related to classified documents and election interference, is expected to be removed from his position before Trump's inauguration. Discussions are ongoing among senior DOJ officials on how to end the prosecutions while complying with department policy. According to a source familiar with the matter, "Jack Smith will be gone from his post as special counsel, meaning the cases will be gone before Trump takes the oath of office."