WASHINGTON — The federal election-interference prosecution of Donald Trump ended without a jury verdict, closing a historic criminal case that examined alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election while leaving behind a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the limits of presidential immunity.
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation led to a four-count federal indictment against Trump on August 1, 2023. Prosecutors alleged that Trump participated in conspiracies to obstruct the lawful transfer of presidential power, interfere with the certification of electoral votes and undermine the federal government’s process for counting the results of the election.
Trump pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case was ultimately dismissed before trial, meaning a jury never evaluated the prosecution’s allegations or returned a verdict. The dismissal was not an acquittal, nor did it establish criminal guilt.