Jack Smith filed a motion on Monday, November 25, 2024, to dismiss the Jan. 6 indictment against Trump (story here), which the judge quickly approved (see story here)
Smith also won’t pursue further the pending appeal of Judge Aileen Cannon’s eye-rolling dismissal of the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case (see story here).
Trump characterized both these prosecutions as “empty and lawless.” They’re hardly that; two grand juries of ordinary citizens found, based on evidence, probable cause to indict him.
So why is Trump escaping prosecution? Quite simply, presidents must be able to give their undivided attention to their presidential duties, and the Constitution prioritizes this above individual justice.
Dismissing the criminal cases against him isn’t a finding of innocence, and doesn’t exonerate him; it’s a “people’s pardon,” i.e. the voters gave Trump a job to do and freeing him to do it takes precedence over prosecuting his crimes. Under this principle, he could even get away with drowning a basket of puppies.