**Special Counsel Jack Smith to Resign Before Trump's Inauguration**

Jack Smith, the special counsel responsible for two federal criminal investigations into Donald Trump, plans to resign before the president-elect can fulfill his pledge to dismiss him "within two seconds" of taking office. According to a New York Times report, Smith has informed prosecutors and FBI agents on his team to commence planning their exits, indicating his intention to step down prior to Trump's inauguration.

Smith is currently evaluating how to conclude his investigations, even though the cases are now largely moot following Trump's recent presidential victory. Before leaving, Smith is expected to submit a final report on his investigations as per Department of Justice regulations. This report could potentially detail the charges against Trump regarding his involvement in the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack and the alleged mishandling of classified government documents. It remains uncertain if this report will be finalized and made public before President Joe Biden's term concludes in January.

Despite the ambiguity surrounding the publication of his final report, Smith has expressed his determination to leave no "significant part of his work for others to complete," as stated by The New York Times. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have signaled intentions of a possible retribution campaign against Trump's perceived adversaries. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) have already requested that Smith's office preserve all records related to the Trump investigations, hinting at a forthcoming congressional inquiry.

Prominent Trump supporter and MAGA billionaire Elon Musk reacted positively to the news, tweeting that "Jack Smith's abuse of the justice system cannot go unpunished." This comes after Trump criticized Smith in early October, following the unsealing of a 165-page filing detailing Trump’s alleged role in the January 6 riots. Trump took to Truth Social, calling Smith "deranged" and accusing the special counsel and the "Radical Left Democrats" of weaponizing the Justice Department in an attempt to maintain power.