Jack Smith to Step Down Ahead of Trump's Return to Office

Special Counsel Jack Smith is reportedly planning to resign amid concerns that President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House will render null the cases filed against him. 

The Details: Smith, who oversaw two outstanding criminal cases filed against Trump, has already requested a pause on these cases, saying, the pause will “afford the government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.” His resignation, planned to be effective before Trump's inauguration, comes as a part of his efforts to prevent potential dismissal by the incoming president, who said last month he would fire Smith in "two seconds." 

For Context: Trump was charged by Smith after he allegedly mishandled classified documents post-presidency. A Federal Judge dismissed the case; however, Smith appealed. He also filed charges against Trump on accusations of attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Judicial norms prevent a sitting president from being prosecuted or jailed, and it is assumed that these charges would be dropped upon Trump's return. Trump still has a pending criminal case in Georgia.

How The Media Covered It: Many outlets on the left and right covered the story similarly, but outlets on the left tended to include Trump's other convictions and pending cases. Some outlets on the right used subjective adjectives, such as Jack Smith is "scrambling" to finish his work before he resigns. An editor wrote this summary with the help of AllSides AI.