Key takeaways:

• Jack Smith has resigned from the Justice Department after leading investigations into Donald Trump.
• The DOJ filed an appeal to release Smith's report on election interference and classified documents.
• Trump's team has sought to block the release of Smith's findings, labeling them as biased.
• Smith's departure comes ahead of Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025.
• Smith dropped both criminal cases against Trump following his election win due to DOJ policies.

Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed to investigate former President Donald Trump, has formally resigned from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), following a series of contentious investigations. His resignation, disclosed in a court filing on January 11, comes just days before Trump is set to be inaugurated again on January 20, 2025. The resignation follows the submission of a comprehensive report on Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and his improper handling of classified documents.

Smith's departure is significant as he had been overseeing two high-profile federal investigations into Trump, which have now concluded without further legal proceedings. After Trump secured the presidency again in the November elections, Smith opted to withdraw the criminal cases due to the longstanding DOJ policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. This policy was the basis on which Smith's investigations were subsequently abandoned, stating that it was impractical to continue with Trump's impending return to office.

Following his resignation, DOJ officials indicated in court filings that Smith had submitted his final confidential report to Attorney General Merrick Garland on January 7, 2025. This report contains details on the findings from both investigations. However, tensions rose when U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, issued a temporary order preventing the release of Smith’s report, raising concerns that it could influence ongoing legal matters concerning Trump's aides who face related charges. The Department of Justice has countered this order, claiming that Cannon exceeded her authority, and is seeking to appeal the ruling in hopes of publicly releasing the findings, particularly regarding election interference before Trump's inauguration.

Throughout the investigations, Trump described Smith's work as a "witch hunt" and labeled him “deranged,” claiming that he would seek to dismiss Smith upon taking office. In a statement on social media, Trump falsely asserted that Smith had been "fired" rather than resigned, which contradicts the official account. The statements from Trump and his legal team seek to undermine the perceived legitimacy of the investigations and subsequent reports, arguing they were politically motivated.

As further developments await, the legal landscape surrounding Smith's investigations and Trump's incoming administration remains fraught with tension. Smith's investigations marked a critical chapter in the ongoing scrutiny of Trump's conduct during and after his presidency, and as political stakes rise, public anticipation builds surrounding the fate of the released reports, which could provide critical insights into the previous administration's actions connected to the Capitol riot and the mishandling of classified information. For more details, visit the full articles from LA Times, USA Today, BBC, and others.