Trump seeks to block release of special counsel report

During his time outside the White House, Trump faced a series of legal cases, which were successfully delayed and thwarted by his lawyers and allies.

Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration faced accusations from Trump’s opponents that they brought cases against the Republican too slowly, while Trump supporters argued the prosecutions were politically motivated.

One of Smith’s two cases concerned Trump’s attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 election, which he lost to Biden.

Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and the case ended up in legal limbo after the Supreme Court ruled that Trump had partial immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts committed while in office.

Smith later re-filed his case, but closed it after Trump’s victory in the 2024 election.

He was also leading a case against Trump for his alleged mishandling of classified documents. after leaving the White House following his first presidency, accusations that Trump also denied.

This case faced its own hurdle when the Trump-appointed judge dismissed the charges, arguing that Smith was improperly appointed to lead the case. Once again, Mr. Smith responded, this time with an appeal, but then abandoned this as well.

Justice Department guidelines prevent criminal prosecution of a sitting president. Mr. Smith clarified that this legal protection also applied to the prosecution of a private citizen who was subsequently elected president.

The news was celebrated by the Trump campaign, which hailed it as a “major victory for the rule of law.”

Smith is also expected to leave his job before Trump returns to the White House on Jan. 20 and threatens to fire him.

Despite his recent legal victories, Trump still faces sentencing on Friday after being convicted in New York last year of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments made to a porn star.

With less than two weeks until Trump is reopened as president of the United States, the judge rejected a request for a delay, although he previously made clear that he will not consider giving Trump a prison sentence.