Criminal cases Prosecutors to pre-emptively halt actions

Special counsel prosecutors will shut down their criminal cases against Donald Trump before he takes office, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter, after his victory against Kamala Harris meant they would not proceed to trial.

- Hugo Lowell

The move reflects the reality that the cases will not be completed before inauguration day. Once the former president returns to the White House, the special counsel's office would be prohibited from pursuing further criminal actions under justice department policy.

The justice department has long known that if Trump won, the criminal cases - over Trump's retention of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election - would be finished because Trump's attorney general would likely drop the charges.

But it is understood to be a preemptive measure to ensure Trump would not be able to order the dismissal of the special counsel, Jack Smith, as he had vowed to do if he took office and Smith was in the role.