Jack Smith’s final report reveals that his team had sufficient evidence to convict former President Donald Trump… read more
Special counsel Jack Smith’s final report has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, revealing that his team had gathered sufficient evidence to convict former President Donald Trump if the case had gone to trial. However, Trump’s election to a second term in November 2024 rendered it impossible for the case to proceed, as per the longstanding Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
The 174-page report, dated January 7, 2025, and addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland, provides a damning account of Trump’s alleged attempts to subvert the 2020 election results. Smith’s team investigated Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack and his alleged mishandling of government records, including classified documents.
The report discloses that Smith’s team considered bringing a more severe charge against Trump, specifically a violation of the Insurrection Act. This act prohibits inciting, assisting, or engaging in any rebellion or insurrection against the United States or its laws. However, the special counsel’s office ultimately decided not to pursue this charge.
Trump’s response to the report’s release was predictable, with him lashing out at Smith and the congressional committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack. Trump claimed that the report was “nothing less than another attempted political hit job” designed to disrupt his presidential transition and undermine his executive power.
The report’s release marks the culmination of an extraordinary legal saga that pitted the Justice Department against the former president. Smith’s investigation led to two federal indictments against Trump, which were later dismissed due to his election to a second term.
The special counsel’s report provides the most detailed account yet of Trump’s alleged plot to overturn the 2020 election. It reveals that Trump attempted to obstruct the electoral process by pressuring state officials to disregard the true majority of votes in their states. He also allegedly urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” more than 11,000 votes and pushed then-Vice President Mike Pence to throw out the electoral certificates that reflected millions of citizens’ votes.
Smith argued that prosecuting Trump was essential to protecting the US electoral process and the right to vote. He claimed that Trump’s actions endangered the voting rights of millions of Americans and that his prosecution was necessary to vindicate and protect those rights.
The report also highlights the violence that erupted on January 6, 2021, when Trump’s supporters attacked the US Capitol. Smith noted that 140 law enforcement officers were assaulted, with some suffering significant physical injuries. He alleged that Trump’s speech that day, in which he told his supporters to “fight like hell,” fueled the violence.
In conclusion, Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report presents a scathing indictment of former President Donald Trump’s alleged attempts to subvert the 2020 election. While Trump’s election to a second term has rendered the case moot, the report’s release provides a critical examination of Trump’s actions and their implications for American democracy.
Key Takeaways:
- Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report reveals that his team had sufficient evidence to convict former President Donald Trump if the case had gone to trial.
- The report provides a detailed account of Trump’s alleged plot to overturn the 2020 election, including his attempts to obstruct the electoral process and pressure state officials to disregard the true majority of votes.
- Smith argued that prosecuting Trump was essential to protecting the US electoral process and the right to vote.
- The report highlights the violence that erupted on January 6, 2021, when Trump’s supporters attacked the US Capitol, and alleges that Trump’s speech that day fueled the violence.
- Trump’s election to a second term has rendered the case moot, but the report’s release provides a critical examination of Trump’s actions and their implications for American democracy.
