A judge has dropped the charges against President-elect Donald Trump in the D.C. case against him, following a request that Special Counsel Jack Smith made on Monday. This decision is related to the investigation into the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach. The request made by Smith was learned by Fox News Digital earlier on Monday. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan wrote in a decision, “The Government has moved to dismiss the Superseding Indictment without prejudice. Defendant does not oppose the Motion…and the court will grant it.”
Additionally, Smith filed a motion to drop his appeal in his classified records case against Trump, a case that was dismissed in July by federal Judge Aileen Cannon. Cannon ruled that Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel. These recent developments come after Smith, following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, signaled that he would start winding down his case against Trump. The filing went live on the Department of Justice docket on Monday afternoon.
Smith had previously filed a motion to vacate all deadlines in the 2020 election interference case against Trump in Washington, D.C., a move that was expected but did not completely drop the case against Trump. Smith had mentioned that his team planned to provide an updated report on the official status of the case against Trump on Dec. 2. Trump had pleaded not guilty to all charges in the case and took the fight to the U.S. Supreme Court, citing presidential immunity.
The high court’s ruling that Trump was immune from prosecution for official presidential acts led Smith to file a new indictment, to which Trump also pleaded not guilty. Trump’s legal team has been working to have the election interference charges in Washington, D.C., dismissed, claiming that Smith’s appointment was unlawful.
Trump has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings and has taken to social media to express his views on the cases against him. He has criticized the use of taxpayer dollars in pursuing these charges and has accused state prosecutors and district attorneys of engaging in politically motivated actions.
Despite the ongoing legal battles, Trump’s spokesman and incoming White House communications director, Steven Cheung, expressed that the decision to end the federal cases against Trump is a victory for the rule of law. Trump is expected to take office once again before Smith resigns as special counsel.
In a statement, Trump reiterated his belief that the cases against him are baseless and have been politically motivated. He has denounced the allocation of taxpayer funds towards these legal battles and has criticized certain prosecutors for their handling of the cases. Trump’s message on social media emphasized his commitment to overcoming these challenges and continuing to work towards his goal of making America great again.
Overall, these recent developments in the legal cases against Trump have garnered attention and sparked discussions about the implications of the decisions made by the court. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the final outcomes will shape the political landscape moving forward.
