Name: Special Counsel Jack Smith Drops Charges in Trump Election Case, Classified Documents Appeal
Uploaded: 2024-11-26T16:23:54.000Z
Description: Special counsel Jack Smith on Nov. 25 dropped the charges in his election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump, while also moving to drop his appeal of a judge's decision in the president-elect's classified documents case.

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the U.S. and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

China’s Broken Promises Loom Over New Trade Deals

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

Californians React as Trump Calls for Gas Tax Suspension

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

Federal Agencies Announce ‘Summer Surge’ of Law Enforcement into DC Ahead of 250th Anniversary

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Trump Administration Reports Zero Border Releases

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

US to Host 1st Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show, Featuring Shakira, Madonna

Savannah Pointer is a politics reporter for The Epoch Times. She can be reached at savannah.pointer@epochtimes.us

Savannah Hulsey Pointer

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's National Security Correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Health News

Texas Children's Hospital to Open First-Ever Detransition Clinic Under Deal With DOJ

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

Citizens Honor Police for Their Service and Sacrifice

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

Trump ‘Projecting American Influence and Leadership’ on Iran Issue in Beijing: China Expert

Chris Bob is a reporter for NTD and a host of "Profiles of Service." He is also a small business owner. Chris graduated from Union College with a concentration in politics and religion in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Chris Bob

Senate Panel Advances Crypto Regulation Bill

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

Lawmakers Weigh ‘Sanctuary’ Polices After Woman’s Death in Virginia

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 11)

Don Ma is an anchor and senior business correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Don is the anchor and producer of NTD's "Business Matters," which airs weekdays at 4:30 pm ET.

Don Ma

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 10)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 9)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

Special counsel Jack Smith on Nov. 25 dropped the charges in his election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump, while also moving to drop his appeal of a judge's decision in the president-elect's classified documents case.

In a six-page <a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67656604/281/united-states-v-trump/">court filing</a> in a Washington federal court, Smith’s team wrote that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has long argued “that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” referring to Trump’s recent election victory.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, hours later, <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.283.0_2.pdf">agreed</a> to drop the election case.

“This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant,” the filing states.

His office said that prosecutors have conferred with Trump’s attorneys, who indicated they do not oppose the government’s motion.

“Based on the Department’s interpretation of the Constitution, the Government moves for dismissal without prejudice of the superseding indictment,” the court documents state.

At the same time, in a federal appeals court, Smith also <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca11.87822/gov.uscourts.ca11.87822.79.0.pdf">stated</a> he is dropping his appeal of U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon's July decision to dismiss a case that accused the president-elect of illegally retaining classified records and obstructing an investigation.

"Dismissing the appeal as to defendant Trump will leave in place the district court’s order dismissing the indictment without prejudice as to him," Smith's filing stated. But his appeal concerning two other defendants in the case, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, "will continue because, unlike defendant Trump, no principle of temporary immunity applies to them."

Cannon had dismissed the case after agreeing with arguments that Smith was not lawfully appointed as special counsel. Smith in August <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/special-counsel-smith-asks-appeals-court-to-revive-trump-documents-case-5713245">asked</a> the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to reverse her decision.

The move marks an end to Smith’s criminal pursuit of Trump over the past two years or so, accusing him of attempting to illegally overturn the 2020 election. Smith alleged that Trump mishandled classified documents in a separate case that was dismissed over the summer by a federal judge.

Smith's decision was anticipated after his team said in court filings that it was assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the classified documents case in the wake of Trump’s win on Nov. 5 over Vice President Kamala Harris.

According to Smith’s team, the DOJ believes that in accordance with a longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, the president-elect can no longer be tried.

The DOJ policy that Smith is referring to, which dates back to the 1970s, provides that a criminal prosecution of a sitting president would violate the U.S. Constitution by undermining the ability of the country's chief executive to function.

Trump has often criticized the two cases that were brought by Smith, who was named as the special counsel by outgoing Attorney General Merrick Garland, describing them as attempts to use the DOJ to target a political opponent. Earlier this year, Trump told a radio host that if he were elected, he would move to remove Smith as special counsel.

Smith’s election case ultimately resulted in a July 1 U.S. Supreme Court decision that said presidents can enjoy some immunity from prosecution for their official acts and duties.

Months later, Smith filed a superseding indictment that argued that Trump acted on his own accord and not within his presidential duties when he allegedly broke the law. Trump had pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Trump's lawyers had previously said they would seek to dismiss the charges based on a Supreme Court ruling in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution over official actions taken while in the White House.

Trump also faced similar, election-related charges in Fulton County, Georgia. However, that case is in limbo after a codefendant accused the prosecutor, Fani Willis, of being in a romantic relationship with her special counsel, Nathan Wade, who resigned earlier this year after a judge issued a related order.

That Fulton County judge allowed Willis to remain on the case. Trump and several codefendants then petitioned the Georgia Court of Appeals to reject the judge’s ruling, effectively pausing the case.

In Trump's business records case in New York, <a href="https://admin4.theepochtimes.com/us/trumps-sentencing-is-postponed-indefinitely-new-york-judge-says-5763123">sentencing</a> was postponed indefinitely on Nov. 22 by a judge after Trump's election win. On May 30, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with payments he made during the 2016 presidential campaign, which he had denied were illegal.

Sentencing in that case was initially scheduled for July but was postponed until Nov. 26. In a ruling on Nov. 22, Judge Juan Merchan wrote that he was granting a request to adjourn that sentencing date.

<em>Reuters contributed to this report.</em>

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/special-counsel-jack-smith-drops-trump-election-interference-case-5765929">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

trump

Videos

Politics

01_Lead Story

04_Top Stories

Premium Picks

Latest Clips

Management

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. 

Jack Phillips

Donald Trump

Trump Indictments

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.