In a stunning revelation, special counsel Jack Smith’s final report has delivered a damning verdict on Donald Trump’s attempts to subvert the 2020 election results, branding his actions an “unprecedented criminal effort” to cling to power. Despite evading prosecution after winning back the White House in 2024, Trump faces unflinching condemnation from Smith, whose report lays bare a sweeping scheme to undermine democracy.
The Shocking Details: A Plot to Corrupt the Election
Smith’s 137-page report, released shortly after midnight on Tuesday, meticulously outlines the lengths to which Trump allegedly went to overturn Joe Biden’s victory. The findings highlight a coordinated campaign to spread false election fraud claims, pressure GOP allies, and manipulate Congress to disrupt the certification of Biden’s win.
Among the most explosive revelations is Trump’s use of false elector schemes. Smith’s investigation found that Trump and his co-conspirators deceived Republican activists in key states into signing fraudulent documents claiming to be legitimate presidential electors. These sham certificates became the cornerstone of Trump’s attempts to derail the January 6, 2021, certification process—a move prosecutors argued culminated in the Capitol attack.
The Evidence That Could Have Convicted Trump
Smith’s report draws from an extensive investigation that included 250 interviews, 55 grand jury witnesses, and a treasure trove of records, including encrypted messages between Trump allies like former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark and Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.). Smith asserts that this mountain of evidence was more than sufficient to convict Trump at trial, had the Justice Department not been forced to drop the case under its policy barring the prosecution of sitting presidents.
“The admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction,” Smith wrote, emphasizing that Trump’s return to the White House effectively shielded him from accountability.
Trump’s Response: Denial and Defiance
True to form, Trump lashed out on social media, calling Smith a “lamebrain prosecutor” and claiming that the report was a desperate attack after his resounding 2024 election win. “The voters have spoken!” Trump declared, dismissing the investigation as a political witch hunt.
However, Smith directly countered Trump’s assertions of exoneration, writing, “That is false.”
Legal Wrangling and Delays: How Trump Ran Out the Clock
Smith’s report also details the legal obstacles that slowed the case to a crawl. Trump’s defense team employed classic delay tactics, tying up proceedings with claims of immunity and appeals that culminated in a Supreme Court ruling granting presidents broad protections for actions taken while in office. These delays allowed Trump to run out the clock, using his 2024 election win as a shield against prosecution.
Classified Documents Investigation Still in Limbo
While the election-focused volume of Smith’s report is now public, a second volume concerning Trump’s handling of classified documents remains under court-ordered secrecy. The report’s release has been mired in legal battles involving Trump allies Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, whose cases have been dismissed but remain under appeal. Trump, now poised to return to the Oval Office, is expected to quash any remaining legal threats against them with pardons or policy shifts.
A Fractured Justice System and a Nation Divided
Smith’s scathing final report serves as both a historical record of Trump’s actions and a stark warning about the fragility of democratic institutions. For Trump’s critics, it is a bitter reminder of what they see as a failure to hold the former president accountable. For his supporters, it is further evidence of a system they believe is rigged against their leader.
As Trump prepares to retake office, Smith’s report leaves an indelible mark, ensuring that his contested legacy remains a flashpoint in America’s political and legal history.
