Elections
DOJ Plans to ‘Wind Down’ Federal Cases Against President-Elect Donald Trump, Citing Agency Policy
Following Donald Trump’s re-election, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly preparing to wind down two high-profile federal criminal cases against the president-elect. According to an exclusive report from NBC News, DOJ officials are aiming to comply with the department’s longstanding policy that prohibits prosecuting a sitting president.
The cases, spearheaded by Special Counsel Jack Smith, involve Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and alleged mishandling of classified documents. However, legal experts and DOJ insiders now believe the logistical and procedural barriers, coupled with a policy against prosecuting sitting presidents, mean that neither case is likely to move forward as scheduled.
Trump’s legal team has already indicated it will pursue extensive appeals, which could delay trials even if Trump had not won the election. These appeals could take years and likely would lead to Supreme Court intervention. With Trump set to be sworn in on Inauguration Day in January 2025, the DOJ faces an upcoming “hard deadline” under department policy established after Watergate. This policy asserts that prosecuting a sitting president would interfere with the executive branch’s ability to function, leaving impeachment as the primary recourse for alleged presidential misconduct.
The DOJ’s move to wind down the cases reflects the reality of this deadline, as officials now see no clear path forward for trials before Trump assumes office.
Just the News reports that before the election, Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team intensified its efforts, refiling aspects of both cases. In the election interference case, prosecutors emphasized the legal merits of maintaining charges despite the Supreme Court’s recent ruling expanding presidential immunity. Smith’s team also filed a rebuttal to Trump’s lawyers’ claim that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional, reinforcing the DOJ’s position on the validity of the investigation and charges.
These filings illustrate the DOJ’s efforts to reinforce its legal foundation for prosecuting Trump. But with the election outcome confirmed, these arguments may no longer have an immediate effect on the course of the cases.
With Trump soon to be inaugurated, the DOJ’s plans reflect a potential impasse in the pursuit of justice against a sitting president. Although the department’s post-Watergate policy is rooted in concerns over presidential duties, critics argue that this effectively shields Trump from accountability while he holds office.
In November, president-elect Donald Trump announced on social media that he would impose a 25% tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico if they do not take an active role in containing illegal immigration as well as the level of illicit drugs entering into the United States.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Trump at his residence in Mar-a-Lago, after which the Canadian government vowed to secure the border. “We got, I think, a mutual understanding of what they’re concerned about in terms of border security,” Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc, who accompanied Trudeau at Mar-a-Largo, said of the meeting in an interview with Canadian media. “All of their concerns are shared by Canadians and by the government of Canada.”
“We talked about the security posture currently at the border that we believe to be effective, and we also discussed additional measures and visible measures that we’re going to put in place over the coming weeks,” LeBlanc continued. “And we also established, Rosemary, a personal series of rapport that I think will continue to allow us to make that case.”
The Daily Caller News Foundation reports the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is preparing to beef up its immigration enforcement capabilities by hiring more staff, adding more vehicles and creating more processing facilities, in the chance that there is an immigration surge sparked by Trump’s presidential election victory. The moves are a change in direction from Trudeau’s public declaration in January 2017 that Canada was a “welcoming” country and that “diversity is our strength” just days after Trump was sworn into office the first time.
The Daily Caller notes the differences in response from the Canadian government verses Mexico’s:
Trudeau’s recent overtures largely differ from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has indicated she is not willing to bend the knee to Trump’s tariff threats. The Mexican leader in November said “there will be a response in kind” to any tariff levied on Mexican goods going into the U.S., and she appeared to deny the president-elect’s claims that she agreed to do more to beef up border security in a recent phone call.
-
Media5 days agoTHE POOR DEARS: White House Reporters Claim They’re Already ‘Exhausted’ by Second Trump Administration
-
Immigration6 days ago‘Times’ Up’ For Tren de Aragua Members, Major Arrest in NYC
-
Immigration5 days agoCNN Host’s Reaction to Tom Homan Comments About Denver Mayor Speaks Volumes (VIDEO)
-
Politics5 days agoBiden Omits God From Thanksgiving Message
