Department of Justice (DOJ) special counsel Jack Smith is exploring ways to "wind down" the ongoing federal criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump, according to media reports.
Trump, who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race late Tuesday, faces charges over his efforts to remain in office after losing to President Joe Biden in 2020 and in his handling of classified documents that he took with him after leaving the White House in January 2021.
According to two people familiar with talks, there are "active discussions" taking place between leaders at the Justice Department and Smith "about how they can best wind down" the investigations against Trump, CBS News reported on Wednesday.
Fox News also reported that sources close to the Justice Department said that officials are looking to wind down the cases against Trump to uphold the "long-standing policy that prevents Justice Department attorneys from prosecuting a sitting president."
Newsweek reached out to the DOJ via email for comment on Wednesday.
This is a developing story and will be updated as further information becomes available.
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Kaitlin Lewis
Kaitlin Lewis is a Newsweek reporter on the Night Team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Her focus is reporting on national ...
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