Jack Smith needs to call it quits already.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has made the decision not to push for a “mini-trial” to present evidence in the federal election interference case against former President Donald Trump before the upcoming November election. Sources close to the matter revealed this information to Bloomberg.
This move means that key evidence and testimonies related to Trump’s federal indictment—where he faces allegations of trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election—will not be aired publicly before voters head to the polls on November 5. Bloomberg’s reporting suggests that this decision is a significant victory for Trump’s defense team, which has been advocating for a delay in the proceedings until after the election.
Smith’s office declined to comment on the situation when contacted by Newsweek. Additionally, Trump’s campaign was also approached for a statement but has not yet responded.
According to sources who spoke to Bloomberg, Smith’s team is currently “carefully revising the case” against Trump. The proceedings were stalled for months while the Supreme Court considered Trump’s claims of presidential immunity from criminal charges. In July, the Court ruled that while presidents are immune from prosecution for actions taken while in office, they do not have blanket immunity from all legal scrutiny. The case was then sent back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will now determine how the Supreme Court’s ruling affects the indictment.
Earlier this month, Smith requested an extension to address how the Supreme Court’s decision impacts his case, which Judge Chutkan granted. The deadline for the prosecutors’ status report is set for August 30, with a status conference scheduled for September 5.
Legal analyst Neama Rahmani noted that this delay inherently benefits Trump, who is campaigning for a second term. If Trump were to win reelection, the cases would be dismissed as a sitting president cannot be prosecuted. Even if Trump loses, he is likely to continue using legal maneuvers to delay the process.
Rahmani emphasized that Smith’s team is proceeding with caution to ensure the trial is conducted thoroughly. “Smith is focused on getting the case right, not rushing it for political reasons,” Rahmani explained. “If the trial proceeds, it will be highly scrutinized, and Smith is committed to ensuring it is handled with the utmost care.”