President-elect Donald Trump unleashed a blistering attack on Special Counsel Jack Smith following the public release of Smith's final report on investigations into Trump's alleged election interference. The 174-page document, made public early Tuesday, details Smith's conclusions about Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, accusing the former president of employing "deceit" and "knowingly false claims" to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
"Deranged Jack Smith was unable to successfully prosecute the Political Opponent of his 'boss,' Crooked Joe Biden, so he ends up writing yet another 'Report,'" Trump declared on Truth Social shortly after midnight. He labeled Smith a "lamebrain prosecutor" and claimed the report was based on information from the January 6 Committee that had been "illegally destroyed."
The report, released by Attorney General Merrick Garland, came after a protracted legal battle, including an unsuccessful last-minute attempt by Trump to block its release. U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, denied the motion late Monday, clearing the way for its publication.
In a letter accompanying the report, Smith dismissed Trump's accusations of political bias, calling them "laughable" and reaffirming his commitment to prosecutorial principles. "The claim from Mr. Trump that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable," Smith wrote. He defended the charges brought against Trump, asserting that the evidence showed Trump's criminal efforts were aimed at retaining power after his electoral defeat.
Smith's investigation led to charges against Trump for conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, and other counts related to the certification of the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. However, the Department of Justice determined that prosecuting a sitting president would violate constitutional principles, leading to the dismissal of the case after Trump's 2024 election victory.
The timing of the report's release, just days before Trump's inauguration, drew criticism from the president-elect and his allies. Trump accused Smith of acting out of desperation, calling the findings "fake" and the release a "witch hunt."
The report also addressed the classified documents case against Trump, in which Smith had charged him with multiple federal offenses, including willful retention of national defense information and obstruction of justice. That case was dismissed in 2024 when a judge ruled Smith's appointment as special counsel was unlawful.
Smith's tenure as special counsel ended with his resignation last week, and his report serves as his final word on the investigations. The document underscores the complexities of prosecuting a former president, particularly one poised to re-enter the White House.
While the report has no immediate legal consequences for Trump, it offers a comprehensive account of Smith's findings and the rationale behind the charges. "The evidence shows that Mr. Trump used these lies as a weapon to defeat a federal government function foundational to the United States' democratic process," Smith wrote in the report.
Trump's legal team has consistently denied the allegations, arguing that the investigations were politically motivated.
