Jack Smith Withdraws from Trump Classified Documents Case, Refers Co-Defendants to Florida Prosecutors

The special counsel stepped down from the case citing DOJ policy, while charges against Trump’s co-defendants remain under federal review.

Special Counsel Jack Smith formally withdrew from the classified documents case involving President-elect Donald Trump, transferring responsibility for co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Smith dropped charges against Trump in November, citing Department of Justice policy that prohibits prosecuting a sitting president, but the cases against the co-defendants continue.
Nauta and De Oliveira face charges of obstruction of justice, making false statements, and concealing classified documents from federal investigators and Trump’s attorney.
The case stems from the discovery of over 300 classified documents improperly stored at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, with allegations of efforts to hide and mishandle the records.
An appeal of Judge Aileen Cannon’s dismissal of Smith’s role in the case, based on the constitutionality of his appointment, is ongoing in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.