Washington DC: A federal judge has dismissed a major election case against Donald Trump, which alleged that he illegally sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
The dismissal followed a request from special prosecutor Jack Smith, who cited a Justice Department policy that prevents the prosecution of a sitting president.
The case was dismissed “without prejudice,” meaning that charges could be refiled once Trump completes his second term in office.
Smith had also asked for the dismissal of a separate case concerning Trump’s handling of classified documents, but that request still requires approval by a judge.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty in both cases, reacted strongly on social media, calling the federal prosecutions “empty and lawless” and claiming they were politically motivated.
The dismissal comes after a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that confirmed Trump could not be prosecuted for “official acts” performed during his presidency.
Trump’s legal issues stem from multiple cases, including one involving a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, in which he became the first former president to face criminal trial and conviction.
Additionally, Trump is facing nearly 100 criminal charges related to two federal cases and other matters. While the federal charges have seen some significant setbacks, a Georgia state prosecution involving election subversion charges remains active.
An appeals court is currently considering whether to overturn a ruling that allows Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue pursuing the case.
Trump’s return to office after winning the 2024 election has complicated his legal battles, and several of his state-level criminal cases are still unresolved.
In the case involving classified documents, Trump is accused of improperly storing sensitive materials at his Mar-a-Lago resort and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them. The appeal in that case, which was initially dismissed by a Trump-appointed judge, is still pending.
Although the charges have been paused in Georgia, Smith is continuing to pursue the documents case for two other defendants, Trump employees Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira.
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