In a surprising admission, Donald Trump’s legal team has conceded that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report on the criminal investigations into the former president includes evidence of a large-scale criminal conspiracy involving Trump. The revelation comes as Trump’s lawyers make a last-ditch attempt to block the report’s release.
In a letter sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday, Trump’s legal team argued that they had a right to review Smith’s findings before they are made public. The report addresses Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office and claims he led “unprecedented criminal efforts” to obstruct justice.
Trump’s lawyers specifically acknowledged that Smith’s findings point to Trump being at the center of “criminal conspiracies.” However, they called the report politically motivated, claiming that releasing it would interfere with Trump’s presidential transition. They also argue the report contains “baseless attacks” on other members of Trump’s incoming administration, accusing Smith of trying to disrupt Senate confirmation hearings.
Despite the high-stakes legal battle, Smith is required by law to submit a report detailing his findings. In previous investigations, reports like Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election were made public. However, Trump’s lawyers argue that releasing Smith’s report would be an illegal political stunt designed to harm Trump’s political future.
Earlier today, Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, blocked the release of the report. Cannon ruled in favor of Trump’s co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, who are also trying to prevent the report from being published. Their lawyers filed a motion to stop the release until their case has gone through the appeals process.
Cannon had previously ruled that Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional and dismissed charges against Trump in July 2024. Nauta and de Oliveira’s lawyers argue that releasing the report now would violate their clients’ rights, as the charges against them are still under appeal.
