Special counsel Jack Smith has moved to drop federal charges against President-elect Donald Trump, the UK Daily Mail reported. U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan granted Smith's request Thursday, marking another Trump legal victory.
Smith's charges involve Trump's alleged involvement in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, as well as separate charges for the classified documents case. Smith requested the judge grant a dismissal "without prejudice" for the former while dropping an appeal of the latter's dismissal.
The judge agreed to stop the prosecution while Trump is in office, but the government can pick them up again when Trump is no longer president. Chutkan agreed that was the best course of action given a prohibition on prosecuting a sitting president.
"Dismissal without prejudice is appropriate here," she wrote in her decision. Chutkan added that this "consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office."
Although Trump is out of the woods while in office, he could still face prosecution once his term is over. This comes after he's spent years defending himself against lawfare attacks since leaving office.
Not long after President Joe Biden was sworn in, the Department of Justice began pursuing every individual who participated in the demonstration on Jan. 6 in any way. That included Trump, who was the former president by then.
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith to ascertain "whether any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election or the certification of the Electoral College vote held on or about January 6, 2021." Smith was a war crimes prosecutor on a mission.
However, after spending $50 million of taxpayer money to prosecute Trump, all of that comes to an end for now. This comes as other lawfare against Trump begins falling apart as well.
Trump was convicted of 34 felonies in connection with a so-called hush money payment in New York. However, the judge has since moved to dismiss the case since the state cannot prosecute a sitting president. This all but negates the lawfare aimed at taking Trump out leading up to the election.
Steven Cheung, who will be Trump's White House communications director, championed the move as a return to justice. "The American People re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again," he noted in a statement.
"Today’s decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and is a major victory for the rule of law. The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country," he added.
Trump also posted about the decision to his Truth Social. "Over $100 Million Dollars of Taxpayer Dollars has been wasted in the Democrat Party’s fight against their Political Opponent, ME," Trump said following the decision.
"Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before," he added. "It was a political hijacking, and a low point in the History of our Country that such a thing could have happened, and yet, I persevered, against all odds, and WON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump concluded.
This is great news that Trump is off the hook for now. As the president-elect noted, these cases should have never seen the light of day but at least the threat of imprisonment is off the table until he leaves office.
