The federal case against former President Donald Trump regarding alleged attempts to influence the 2020 presidential election—culminating in the Capitol attack—has been officially closed.
On the eve of the decision, Special Counsel Jack Smith submitted a motion to Judge Tanya Chutkan, citing the Department of Justice’s policy against prosecuting sitting presidents for federal crimes.
Smith argued that such a prosecution would violate the U.S. Constitution, stating it could “undermine the president’s ability to fulfill their executive functions.” In response, Judge Chutkan dismissed the case while leaving open the slim possibility of future prosecution.
Chutkan remarked that closing the case would not harm “public interests.” She also concurred with Smith’s assertion that Trump’s presidential immunity would no longer apply once he leaves office.
Despite this, the likelihood of any future charges remains slim, largely due to the statute of limitations on such crimes. The case accused Trump of attempting to interfere with the results of the 2020 election, which saw Joe Biden elected as president.
Earlier this month, Judge Chutkan had paused proceedings to allow the special prosecutor time to assess potential accountability measures against Trump.
