Special Counsel Abandons Criminal Cases Against President-Elect Donald Trump
Special Counsel Jack Smith has moved to abandon two criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump, citing the return of Trump to the White House which precludes attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. This decision comes as longstanding Justice Department policy states that sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution.
Trump emerges victorious, having successfully delayed investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning reelection. In a post on his social media website, Truth Social, Trump declared the cases as empty and lawless. The judge in the election case granted prosecutors’ dismissal request, while a decision in the documents case was still pending.
The outcome highlights that when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, voters’ verdicts supersede all else. Prosecutors emphasized that the move to end the prosecutions was not about the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield surrounding the president.
Despite the dismissals, Trump’s legal troubles may not be over as there are still ongoing cases at the state level. Trump faces trials in New York and Georgia involving hush money payments and attempts to overturn the 2020 election, respectively.
With Trump set to take office for a second term, he will do so free from federal criminal scrutiny. The legal battles against the former president have come to a close, but the implications and consequences of these cases will continue to be felt in the political landscape.
For more information, visit the Associated Press website.
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