• Jack Smith has resigned from the U.S. Department of Justice after overseeing investigations into Donald Trump.
• The resignation comes amid a legal battle over the release of his report on the Trump investigations.
• Smith's report is expected to detail Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
• The Justice Department aims to publish the report before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
• Smith’s investigations resulted in criminal charges against Trump, which were later dropped due to his election.

Jack Smith, the special counsel responsible for investigating former President Donald Trump's alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and his handling of classified documents, has officially resigned from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). His resignation, noted in a court filing submitted to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, confirms that Smith "completed his work" and separated from the DOJ on January 10, 2025, just days after submitting his final confidential report on January 7, as reported by USA Today. The timing of Smith's departure is particularly significant as it comes just ahead of Trump’s planned inauguration as President on January 20, 2025. Concerns had arisen that members of Trump's administration could potentially influence the release of Smith's findings. The DOJ is currently seeking to have the report released before Trump's swearing-in, reflecting the urgency of the matter. Smith's investigations led to two federal indictments against Trump, yet these were ultimately abandoned following his electoral victory. Presently, with a federal appeals court ruling allowing for the potential release of Smith's report on Trump's alleged electoral interference, Judge Cannon must determine whether to maintain the block on the report's release. Many, including the DOJ, assert that Cannon lacks the authority to prevent the Attorney General, Merrick Garland, from publishing the findings of Smith's investigations. The investigations encompassed Trump's alleged efforts to defraud the United States and his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, which interrupted the congressional certification of President Biden’s victory. Supporters of Trump were involved in a violent breach of the Capitol aimed at overturning the election results. The Le Monde also reported that Smith's report on Trump's handling of classified documents is delayed, as ongoing criminal cases against Trump's associates could affect its release. Smith's resignation and the unresolved status of his reports leave questions about the future of the investigations and Trump’s legal standings as he resumes presidential duties. His investigations, notably historic as they represent the first federal criminal cases against a former president, have drawn significant media scrutiny and public interest. As the political landscape shifts with Trump's return to power, the implications of Smith's findings will be closely monitored.

For more detailed coverage on this topic, please read the articles from ABC News, BBC, and Los Angeles Times.