Jack Smith lost a case about Trump’s immunity, now faces legal trouble.
Special prosecutor Jack Smith faced significant legal setbacks this week as the Supreme Court made rulings against his efforts in two pending cases.
Firstly, on Monday, the high court decided that presidents have limited immunity for official presidential actions. Then, on Friday, the court ruled in favor of a Jan. 6 defendant charged with obstructing justice during the Capitol riot in 2021.Â
These rulings are a major blow to Smith’s case against former President Trump and contribute to a series of losses in his legal track record.
In 2022, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith to lead an investigation into Trump’s involvement in the Capitol riot and any alleged interference in the 2020 election.
Smith charged Trump with conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstructing official proceedings, and conspiracy against rights. He aimed to try Trump before the 2024 election, but the Supreme Court’s decisions have delayed the trial schedule and weakened the case.
Smith served under Obama’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, from 2010 to 2015, leading the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section.
Before the recent rulings, Smith had faced other high-profile defeats. Notably, in 2016, he secured a conviction against former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell on corruption charges, which was overturned by the Supreme Court in an 8-0 ruling.
The court’s decision emphasized the need to limit the power of criminal prosecutors to protect the separation of powers.
In 2012, Smith unsuccessfully prosecuted John Edwards, a former senator and Democratic vice-presidential candidate, for federal campaign finance violations. Two years later, his case against Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., on public corruption charges ended in a mistrial.
Smith’s decision to charge Trump with obstruction was seen as politically motivated and drew criticism for politicizing criminal law prosecutions.
Despite these setbacks, Smith continues to pursue justice in high-profile cases, demonstrating his commitment to upholding the law and seeking accountability.
