Special Counsel Jack Smith is reportedly planning to resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office and is in discussions with Justice Department leadership on how to conclude the ongoing federal prosecutions. This information comes from a Justice Department official familiar with the conversations.
Trump has openly threatened to dismiss Smith, but the prosecutor is anticipating stepping down before Trump’s inauguration. Discussions extend not only to the Trump cases but also cover what actions to take regarding other defendants in the classified documents investigation. There are questions about the future of the Special Counsel’s office, including staffing and budget concerns, according to CNN.
Smith is also expected to produce a report detailing his work for Attorney General Merrick Garland. It remains uncertain whether Smith’s departure could be delayed if he needs to submit the report to the intelligence community for review and approval, according to sources close to the talks.
He is working to finalize the report promptly so Garland can approve it and decide if parts of it should be made public. The New York Times first reported on Smith’s plans to step down.
