Justice Department special counsel Smith drops federal criminal charges against Trump • Ohio Capital Journal

WASHINGTON — The federal election interference lawsuit against President-elect Donald Trump is over, at least for the term of his incoming presidency.

Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered The case was dismissed Monday afternoon after U.S. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith asked for the case to be dismissed without prejudice, meaning Trump could be tried again in the future when his term ends.

Trump had faced four felony counts of fraud and obstruction for his role in planning to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, which eventually escalated into political violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Smith also filed an impeachment motion in Florida on Monday to dismiss the case over Trump’s mishandling of classified documents.

Smith said the Justice Department was “carefully considering” the unprecedented situation and told federal courts in Florida and Washington, D.C., that it would be unconstitutional for his office to continue prosecuting the new president, who will take the oath of office in January. 20.

“(T)he Department and the country have never encountered a situation where a federal indictment against a private citizen was returned by a grand jury and criminal prosecution was already underway when the defendant was elected President,” Smith said. wrote In a filing in federal court in D.C.

A federal grand jury issued an indictment against Trump in August 2023 and handed down a superseding indictment last August.

Smith wrote that despite the ban on pursuing the case against Trump, the government “fully stands behind” the merits of this case.

“The government’s position on the merits of the defendant’s prosecution remains unchanged,” Smith wrote. “But the conditions are such…”

A Trump representative hailed Smith’s decision as “a major victory for the rule of law.”

“The American people and President Trump demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system, and we look forward to uniting our country,” Trump communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement Monday.

The question of impeaching a president has been raised twice in the recent history of the United States, but only while that president was already in office. Both times — in 1973 under President Richard Nixon and in 2000 during Bill Clinton’s administration — the Justice Department blocked the cases, citing constitutional restrictions and undermining of the president’s ability to fulfill that role.

Secret documents case

Special advisor also requested The government’s appeal to pursue charges against Trump for allegedly hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida after leaving office is withdrawn.

U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Florida Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July.

Smith will pursue appeals against two of Trump’s co-defendants, Trump valet Waltine Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Olivera, who are also accused of mishandling classified material.

The federal investigations were two of four criminal investigations Trump faced during his campaign to regain the presidency.

Trump made history in May by becoming the first former president to be convicted while convicted. found guilty One of 34 cases of falsifying business records in New York. The case focused on Trump’s cover-up of hush money paid to an adult film actor before his election in 2016. The sentence planned to be given on Tuesday was announced. postponed indefinitely.

Trump’s criminal election interference investigation in Georgia has been ongoing for some time long term Holding pattern during a protracted dispute over prosecutor ethics. Although Trump’s lawsuit in Georgia will likely be dismissed, the state can continue His trial against 14 defendants.

Last update 17:35, 25 November 2024