A report by former Special Counsel Jack Smith, released by U.S. media on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, reveals that President-elect Donald Trump would likely have been convicted of criminal charges had he not been re-elected.
The report emphasizes the U.S. Department of Justice’s policy barring the indictment or prosecution of a sitting President, irrespective of the severity of the alleged crimes or the strength of the evidence. It concludes that “but for Mr. Trump’s election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial.”
Trump faced accusations of conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct an official proceeding in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Despite evidence presented by Smith’s investigation, the case was dropped following Trump’s November election victory, ensuring constitutional immunity as he prepares to take office on January 20.
In response, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, labeling Smith “deranged” and accusing him of failing to prosecute a political opponent effectively. “To show you how desperate Deranged Jack Smith is, he released his fake findings at 1:00 A.M. in the morning,” Trump wrote.
Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, had previously dismissed a related case involving Trump’s handling of classified documents. However, charges remain pending against two former co-defendants.
This publication also notes that Smith, who left the Justice Department last week after submitting his final report, closed his tenure as Special Counsel amidst lingering controversies surrounding the investigation.
