WASHINGTON — The federal election-interference prosecution of Donald Trump ended without a jury verdict, closing one of the most consequential criminal cases ever brought against a former U.S. president while leaving behind a major Supreme Court ruling that reshaped the legal boundaries surrounding presidential immunity.
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation resulted in a four-count federal indictment against Trump on Aug. 1, 2023. Prosecutors alleged that Trump participated in efforts to unlawfully retain power after the 2020 presidential election, including conspiracies involving election certification, electoral votes and the congressional proceedings of Jan. 6, 2021. The Justice Department’s later report described the charges as arising from efforts to use fraud and deceit to overturn the election results.
Trump pleaded not guilty and disputed the allegations. Because the case was dismissed before trial, the accusations contained in the indictment were never presented to a jury for a final determination of guilt or innocence.