In a dramatic turn of events, federal charges against President-elect Donald Trump in both the election interference and classified documents cases have been dismissed, marking a contentious conclusion to an unprecedented legal saga.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigations, filed motions to drop the charges, citing the Justice Department’s long-standing policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Despite acknowledging the gravity of the allegations and the strength of the government’s evidence, Smith stated that pursuing the cases further would be inconsistent with the department’s policies.
The election interference case, which accused Mr. Trump of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in the lead-up to the January 6 Capitol attack, was dismissed by a federal judge in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Smith had previously described the case as one rooted in falsehoods, saying the Capitol riot “was fueled by lies, lies by the defendant.”
The classified documents case, which involved allegations that Mr. Trump improperly retained sensitive government materials at his Mar-a-Lago residence and obstructed efforts to retrieve them, has also been dropped. Smith is expected to resign soon, avoiding dismissal by the incoming president.
A Trump spokesperson hailed the dismissals as a victory for justice and the rule of law. The president-elect has consistently denied any wrongdoing in both cases.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump continues to shift focus to his administration’s agenda, announcing overnight a plan to impose significant tariffs on imported goods. On his first day in office, he plans to issue an executive order charging a 25% tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada, along with an additional 10% tariff on goods from China. The president-elect framed the move as part of his strategy to combat drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
However, critics warn the tariffs could spark legal and economic challenges. Mexico and Canada are the United States’ top trading partners, and the proposed measures would directly contradict the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade pact negotiated by Mr. Trump’s previous administration that took effect in 2020.
As the political and legal battles subside, attention now turns to the president-elect’s upcoming inauguration and the policies his administration will prioritize in the coming months.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.