Departures of Key Prosecutors in Trump’s Classified Documents Case

In a significant development, two seasoned prosecutors who played crucial roles in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald J. Trump’s handling of classified documents have departed from Mr. Smith’s office. This change has raised eyebrows and suggests that any potential trial related to this case may be delayed for many months, if not years.

One of the prosecutors, Julie Edelstein, had a prominent presence in the initial court proceedings related to the classified documents case. She has now transitioned back to the Justice Department’s counterintelligence section. The second prosecutor, David Raskin, who has extensive experience with intelligence-related matters, has returned to his previous position within the national security division at the Justice Department headquarters. These departures were confirmed by sources familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of personnel changes within the special counsel’s office.

The exit of Edelstein and Raskin is unlikely to be the last from Mr. Smith’s team. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland appointed Mr. Smith in late 2022 to lead the investigation into Mr. Trump. Under Mr. Smith’s direction, charges were filed in two separate cases, accusing the former president of jeopardizing national security by mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and attempting to obstruct government efforts to retrieve these documents. Additionally, Trump has faced accusations of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

• The legal battles surrounding these cases have become complex and prolonged, likely pushing any federal trials involving Mr. Trump into 2026 or beyond.
• Recently, Judge Aileen M. Cannon of the Federal District Court dismissed the entire indictment in the documents case, asserting that Mr. Smith’s appointment as special counsel was illegitimate. Mr. Smith has initiated an appeal against this ruling, which will be heard by a federal appeals court and potentially reach the Supreme Court.

As the situation unfolds, if Mr. Trump succeeds in his campaign to reclaim the presidency, he is anticipated to make efforts to dismiss both criminal cases entirely. With no immediate trial preparations required, Mr. Smith’s focus on the documents case has shifted primarily to appeals, which may result in less work for both Ms. Edelstein and Mr. Raskin.

This development serves as a poignant reminder of the prolonged nature of Mr. Smith’s assignment, which may extend far beyond those of recent special counsels. For context:

• Robert S. Mueller III was appointed in 2017 to investigate potential connections between the Trump campaign and Russian interference in the 2016 election, serving as a special counsel for approximately two years.
• Robert K. Hur, tasked with investigating classified documents discovered in President Biden’s possession, operated as special counsel for just over a year.
• John H. Durham served as special counsel for over two years, although his investigation commenced prior to his official appointment during the Trump administration.