Here’s what voters need to know.
Special Counsel Jack Smith is reportedly racing against the clock to finish his investigations into President Donald Trump before he is sworn in again as President in January. According to sources close to the situation, Smith is working to wrap up his cases involving Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his mishandling of classified documents, in an effort to avoid being fired by the incoming Republican president.
Smith, who has faced intense criticism from pro-Trump Republicans, is apparently trying to finalize all remaining work on his probes before Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to terminate Smith “in two seconds” once back in the White House, is expected to take swift action on his first day in office. To avoid being replaced or having his work derailed, Smith has begun notifying his team members to prepare for their departures over the next few weeks, according to the New York Times.
At the heart of Smith’s investigations are two major issues: Trump’s alleged efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, and his handling of classified documents after leaving office. A federal judge in Florida dismissed the documents case in July, but the Department of Justice (DOJ) is still weighing how to proceed with the election-related case. Trump’s expected victory in the 2024 election complicates matters, as the DOJ traditionally refrains from prosecuting a sitting president, meaning Smith’s investigations could be all but moot after January.
In light of the election results, the DOJ has asked for a pause on some court deadlines related to the 2020 election case, which has led to delays. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has ordered Smith to reassess his next steps and report back by December 2, 2024. Given that Trump is likely to be certified as the next president, any further legal actions against him could be significantly limited.
As Smith scrambles to finish his work, many Republicans see the special counsel’s efforts as part of a politically motivated agenda. If he is unable to conclude these investigations before Trump’s second term begins, it’s likely that any remaining charges or prosecutions will be dropped or delayed indefinitely. This situation has only added to the growing tension surrounding the DOJ’s handling of cases against Trump and its perceived bias against him.
