Special counsel Jack Smith defended his decision to bring charges against Donald Trump over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, writing in a report released early Tuesday that prosecutors believed they had enough evidence to convict him had they not been forced to drop the case after his re-election in November.
"Indeed, but for Mr. Trump's election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial," Smith wrote in the 174-page report, the release of which marks the end of an unprecedented chapter in U.S. history.
Smith dismissed the federal election-interference case and one alleging Trump unlawfully retained classified documents, citing longstanding Justice Department policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president.
"While we were not able to bring the cases we charged to trial, I believe the fact that our team stood up for the rule of law matters," Smith wrote in the report, which Attorney General Merrick Garland sent to Congress just before 1 a.m. Tuesday, shortly after a court order barring its disclosure expired. "The facts, as we uncovered them in our investigation and as set forth in my Report, matter," Smith said.
Although many of the report's details had been revealed previously, it represents the most comprehensive assessment of Smith's decision to charge the former president.
Esta historia es de la edición January 15, 2025 de The Wall Street Journal.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 15, 2025 de The Wall Street Journal.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar