Judge Dismisses Special Counsel's Election Case Against Trump
In a significant turn of events, a federal judge has dismissed the criminal case against former President Donald Trump, which alleged he unlawfully attempted to overturn the 2020 election results.
Special counsel Jack Smith, who led the prosecution, filed to drop the charges, citing a long-standing Department of Justice policy that prohibits the prosecution of a sitting president. Judge Tanya Chutkan agreed, dismissing the case “without prejudice,” leaving the door open for charges to be refiled after Trump’s second term concludes.
Smith also requested the dismissal of a separate case involving Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents. Trump, who has maintained his innocence in both cases, described the federal investigations as politically motivated.
Legal Challenges and a Supreme Court Ruling
Earlier this year, Trump faced nearly 100 criminal charges from multiple cases, including allegations of election interference and improper storage of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort. However, a pivotal Supreme Court decision this summer ruled that Trump could not be prosecuted for “official acts” carried out as president.
This ruling, combined with Trump’s recent 2024 election victory, has resulted in the majority of federal charges against him being dropped. A state-level case in Georgia remains on hold, while sentencing in a separate New York criminal conviction has been delayed indefinitely.
Smith’s Argument and the End of a Legal Battle
In his filing, Smith emphasized that the decision to drop the election-related charges was procedural, not a reflection of the evidence or strength of the case.
“It has long been the position of the Department of Justice that the United States Constitution forbids the federal indictment and subsequent criminal prosecution of a sitting President,” Smith wrote.
Smith had attempted to reframe the election-related charges, arguing that Trump’s actions were tied to his campaign rather than his official duties as president. However, these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
Trump’s Response and Political Implications
Following the dismissal, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to criticize the prosecutions as baseless and politically driven.
“These cases were empty and lawless, and they should never have been brought. I persevered, and justice has prevailed,” Trump wrote.
Vice President-elect JD Vance echoed Trump’s sentiments, labeling the cases as politically motivated. “If Donald J. Trump had lost the election, he might have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vance posted.
What’s Next for the Cases?
While Smith has started winding down the federal investigations, the documents case remains partially active, with proceedings continuing for Trump employees Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who were also charged in the matter.
State-level cases, including Georgia’s election interference case and Trump’s New York conviction, remain unresolved. Legal experts note that Trump’s victory in the 2024 election has provided him a shield from federal prosecution while in office.
Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, summarized the situation: “Once Trump was re-elected, his criminal problems effectively disappeared. A sitting president cannot be prosecuted.”
As Trump prepares for his return to the White House, the legal battles that once threatened his political future appear to have come to a halt—at least for now.
