
US President Elect Donald Trump is taking steps to prevent the public disclosure of a report compiled by special counsel Jack Smith, which details the investigation that led to criminal charges against him.
Although both cases were dismissed following Trump’s victory in the November presidential election, Smith is finalizing a report for Attorney General Merrick Garland that summarizes his findings.
The 78-year-old former president faces serious allegations, including conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden, and unlawfully retaining a significant number of top-secret documents after leaving the White House. Smith has indicated that he will determine whether any part of the report should be made public.
Last year, Garland allowed the release of a report from another special counsel, Robert Hur, regarding Biden’s handling of classified documents during his vice presidency. While Hur opted not to file charges against Biden, he made politically charged remarks, labeling him an “elderly man with a poor memory.”
Trump is accused by Smith of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding—the congressional session convened to certify Biden’s victory, which was violently disrupted by a mob of Trump supporters on January 6, 2021. He also faces accusations of attempting to disenfranchise voters through his unfounded claims of election fraud.
In addition to these federal investigations, Trump is embroiled in two state cases in New York and Georgia. In May, he was convicted in New York on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election. Sentencing for this case is scheduled for Friday, although Judge Juan Merchan has indicated he may not impose jail time.
In Georgia, Trump faces racketeering charges linked to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. However, proceedings in that case may be put on hold while he continues his presidential campaign.
As Trump navigates these legal hurdles, the political landscape remains highly charged, with implications for both his campaign and the broader electoral process.