Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference and classified documents cases against Trump
SUMMARY
Federal prosecutors on Monday dropped the classified documents case and the election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump, citing longstanding Justice Department policy that prohibits prosecuting sitting presidents. The announcement, filed in Florida and Washington, D.C., effectively closes two high-profile legal cases that were once considered significant threats to Trump. The classified documents case focused on allegations of mishandling sensitive materials, while the election case accused Trump of a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election. Both cases were dismissed due to the constitutional restriction on prosecuting sitting presidents, as highlighted by special counsel Jack Smith in recent court filings. This development follows Trump’s electoral victory, ensuring he enters office without active criminal scrutiny from these federal cases. Legal experts had anticipated the move after Smith began signaling efforts to wind down the prosecutions.
