Jack Smith, the Department of Justice prosecutor who led two high-profile criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump, has officially resigned from his position.

Smith’s resignation, announced earlier, became official on Friday as he concluded his involvement in a federal investigation targeting Trump during the heated 2024 presidential campaign.

Celebrate Trump's Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

MORE NEWS: Khloé Kardashian Blasts L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Over Wildfire Failures [WATCH]

The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed Smith’s resignation in a court filing submitted to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Saturday.

The filing follows Smith’s announcement that he would be “winding down” his remaining case against Trump after the president-elect’s re-election.

Smith had sought to release a “final report” on his investigation, which has faced legal challenges.

Do you think Elon Musk should purchase Facebook?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.
Close

Judge Cannon previously blocked the release of Smith’s report, citing concerns about the constitutional basis of his appointment as a special prosecutor.

Cannon’s 93-page ruling challenged the authority of Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint special counsels, raising questions about Congress’s role in granting such powers.

“The relevant history, according to Special Counsel Smith, shows that Congress tacitly authorized—or silently acquiesced to—the use of Section 515 (or its predecessor statutes) to appoint ‘special attorneys’ like himself,” Cannon wrote in her decision.

“The lack of consistency makes it near impossible to draw any meaningful conclusions about Congress’s approval of modern special counsels like Special Counsel Smith—much less its acquiescence to Section 515 as a vehicle for such appointments.”

MORE NEWS: Super Bowl Champ’s Son Delivers One Punch Knock Out During Lacrosse Brawl [WATCH]

Smith’s attempt to release portions of his final report faced additional legal hurdles.

On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit denied a bid by Trump aides Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira to block the release of parts of the report.

The appeals court did grant Smith’s request to remove Trump from the case following his re-election, but DOJ prosecutors are appealing the lower court’s dismissal of charges against Nauta and de Oliveira.

The dismissal had cited constitutional concerns surrounding Smith’s appointment.

Smith’s investigation into Trump centered on allegations of mishandling classified documents.

MORE NEWS: Viral Mama Bear Who Confronted Newsom Speaks Out, Calls Him an Irrelevant Liar [WATCH]

The DOJ’s decision to charge Trump has faced criticism, especially as Trump’s legal team had been in contact with the National Archives to address document-related concerns.

Despite Trump’s cooperation, heavily armed FBI agents conducted a high-profile raid on his Mar-a-Lago home, leading to public backlash.

Photos from the raid, including staged images of “top secret” folders, fueled viral conspiracy theories suggesting Trump was hoarding classified materials for illicit purposes.

Among the theories was a debunked claim that Trump was “selling nuclear secrets.”

The folders, which were not part of the classified documents, were used in DOJ publicity materials to amplify allegations against Trump.

Trump has consistently maintained that the documents in question were declassified before he left office.

The materials were stored in a secure, locked room under 24-hour surveillance. Critics have pointed to disparities in the DOJ’s handling of similar cases involving Joe Biden, whose classified documents were discovered in unsecured locations but did not result in criminal charges.

MORE NEWS: Greenland Leader Expresses Desire to Talk with Trump About the Future of the Arctic Territory [WATCH]

Smith’s resignation comes amid widespread criticism of the DOJ’s actions under the Biden-Harris administration, with many accusing the agency of using its authority to target Trump, a leading political rival.

The fallout from Smith’s tenure highlights ongoing concerns about the impartiality of federal investigations and the broader implications for the justice system.

As Smith departs, the DOJ continues to face legal challenges over its handling of the Trump-related cases, including constitutional questions surrounding the authority of special prosecutors.

The cases have sparked national debate, raising questions about fairness, transparency, and the role of federal agencies in politically charged investigations.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.