“Which means Smith now has fewer than seventy days to complete his work—including his final report. Under the [special counsel regulations](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/28/part-600), Smith is required to provide the attorney general, “at the conclusion of the Special Counsel’s work, . . . with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel.” Garland must then “notify the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Judiciary Committees of each House of Congress.”
Smith must decide whether to complete two separate reports covering the two distinct investigations or a single report encompassing both. Either way, just over two months is not a lot of time to assemble final reports covering such large investigations, so Smith’s team will need to work fast. Recall that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report into Russian interference in the 2020 election and Trump’s efforts to obstruct that investigation spanned [nearly 450 pages](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/18/politics/full-mueller-report-pdf/index.html). Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr’s report into the Whitewater investigation of the Clintons [stretched to 445 pages](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-impeachment/starr-submits-report-house/), and included 36 boxes of sealed grand jury material.
Will there be any surprises in what Smith writes? Although much of the story around January 6th has long been public—and the House January 6th Committee’s [final report](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-J6-REPORT/pdf/GPO-J6-REPORT.pdf) is impressively comprehensive—the scope of the damage to national security inflicted by Trump’s cavalier handling of classified information remains secret.
Which brings us to the question of whether Garland will publish Smith’s reports. The regulations say that it is exclusively up to the attorney general to determine whether “public release of these reports would be in the public interest.” Presumably, he will make large parts of the report public—as he did with Special Counsel [Robert Hur’s report](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/09/garland-decision-release-hur-report-00140806) regarding classified documents found at the home of the president who appointed him, Joe Biden, a move that triggered sharp critiques from the left.
Looming over Smith’s and Garland’s decisions is the specter of the ex-president who is now the incoming president. Trump has promised vengeance through his Justice Department, which he announced on Wednesday will be led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as attorney general, if Trump gets his way.
Join
It’s worth keeping an eye on two categories of information that could be released in Smith’s final reports: classified information and grand jury records. Biden could declassify parts of the Mar-a-Lago records for no other reason than to preserve for posterity the facts regarding Trump’s alleged national security crimes. If the records of the investigation aren’t declassified and published before the change in administrations, Trump will undoubtedly order them all destroyed—an action that the Supreme Court’s ruling in *Trump v. U.S.* would insulate from scrutiny.
It’s not going to be acted on, so why does Dear Leader need to worry?
Tank3875 on
He won’t, of course.
waterdaemon on
I think Garland still hopes to be appointed to the Suoremes, and has been instrumental in helping Trump run out the clock.
che-che-chester on
Give the report to Biden and let him release it. He can say he considers informing the public about the president-elect to be an official act.
smsmkiwi on
It will never ever see the light of day.
homebrewguy01 on
Shhh! Don’t wake him up. He is dreaming of doing something about something sometime.
Kazooguru on
No one would believe it anyways. Just keep a copy somewhere safe for a historical record.
Beatthestrings on
He will but the American public can’t read.
Mylaptopisburningme on
I am sure MAGA would be disturbed if they could read.
HippyDM on
Garland ain’t doing shit. Never was going to. Worst hire Biden made.
Joe should release everything. The man’s got immunity from prosecution after all.
IsGoingTTaM on
Indubitably and the 14th amendment should be enforced but won’t happen since rules for thee.
daddyneedsadrink on
It constantly amazes me how spineless and weak the Democrats are
Rain_Dogs_ on
He won’t.
theclansman22 on
Spoiler alert : he won’t. Worst hire of the Biden administration.
ComplexParticular149 on
I’m amazed by level of delusion here…so let me spell it out, THEY DON’T CARE, nobody cares, the voters don’t care, the repubs don’t care, the media doesn’t care…even if it is released, there will be zero consequences…it will be a blip on a radar; just as a reminder, AG is a child rapist, idiot with a brainworm is responsible for health, russian asset is head of intelligence and an idiot is in charge of the military…nobody will care about this report, too much reading for average american voter…the world is fucked
YNot1989 on
Stop hoping that feckless wimp will save us.
astrozombie2012 on
He’s not gonna start doing his job now lol
shagadelicrelic on
Can we get a little dark brandon before he’s gone? Come on Joe do something with the little time you have left in office
Roflcopter71 on
“People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook.”
svenner2020 on
If your current government is complicit in the current actions and the future actions of a fascist Trump presidency, and does nothing to stop it, what does that tell you.
mistergrumbles on
Nobody will care. Nothing will happen. It’ll be news for one day. We’re in a declining country that’s eating itself alive from the inside out. The Republicans use guns to fight their battles and the Democrats use Nerf Bats. Oklahoma just voted to put Trump bibles in schools and eliminate the “irreconcilable differences” clause for divorce. They want to keep people poor, dumb, pregnant, married and Christian. Watch what happens in Oklahoma, because that’s the Republican dream.
dchap1 on
He won’t. He failed the US, he’s not about to try save face now.
CelticSith on
Must, yes..
Won’t, also yes
Chox12 on
Merrick Garland is a dumbshit who could have put this mess to rest but did nothing because he’s an absolute moron who doesn’t care for democracy
tweedlebeetle on
They were crimes before he was re-elected and they are still crimes. Every time they fold like this it lends credence to the idea of it being a politically motivated witch hunt instead of the actual desperately needed justice and sunlight that it is.
NotThatTodd on
Merrick Garland is a flaccid failure.
Lank42075 on
Fuck Merrick Garland..Spineless coward history will not be kind.
mikeber55 on
Merrick Garland must go home ASAP. He is personally responsible for much that’s happening these days!
As for the OP, non of these reports had any effect in the past. Democrats continue with this futile line for 9 years. Trump was impeached not once, but twice! It’s without precedent and…a total waste of time. Investigations – from Robert Mueller (2 years of waste) to congressional committee didn’t yield anything! “It’s for the protocol” they said! “For the history”…Give us a break!
pflashog on
He is WORTHLESS
Rayydenn on
Garland can’t even order a pizza without thinking about how republicans are gonna react to that
Fit_Addition7137 on
I wonder what Merrick “Do Nothing” Garland will do with his last few days of freedom.
KingEllis on
Merrick Garland, in order to not appear partisan, has decided to go ahead and consistently do things that benefit the conservatives.
FloinkDavis on
Don’t rush him guys! He only started the job 32 months ago. Give him time to orient himself before he gets down to business.
TemetN on
It was obvious what Garland was doing when he ran the clock out on the statutes for some of Trump’s crimes, and explicit when he went up and said he was the reason that nothing was being pursued. The only way he does anything about this is if he thinks it benefits him.
MickeyJ3 on
“It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it.”
Kind of a blessing in disguise this guy isn’t a life appointment to the Supreme Court. He’s useless.
DarkRaven01 on
I like how people are pretending like this is going to fucking matter whatsoever… nobody cares, folks. Nobody cares.
MagicalUnicornFart on
Biden fucked the country with this appointment.
Garland is an embarrassment, and helped shield Trump and the GOP..
ShittyStockPicker on
Fucking should have got it before the election. In the words of that one judge releasing it would impact the election and not releasing it would impact the election.
Shutaru_Kanshinji on
He will not, though. Merrick Garland is and has always been a Trump supporter.
Does not matter whether he admits it. Does not even matter if Merrick Garland himself fails to realize it. Everything he has done has supported Convicted Felon Trump.
40 Comments
“Which means Smith now has fewer than seventy days to complete his work—including his final report. Under the [special counsel regulations](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/28/part-600), Smith is required to provide the attorney general, “at the conclusion of the Special Counsel’s work, . . . with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel.” Garland must then “notify the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Judiciary Committees of each House of Congress.”
Smith must decide whether to complete two separate reports covering the two distinct investigations or a single report encompassing both. Either way, just over two months is not a lot of time to assemble final reports covering such large investigations, so Smith’s team will need to work fast. Recall that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report into Russian interference in the 2020 election and Trump’s efforts to obstruct that investigation spanned [nearly 450 pages](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/18/politics/full-mueller-report-pdf/index.html). Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr’s report into the Whitewater investigation of the Clintons [stretched to 445 pages](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-impeachment/starr-submits-report-house/), and included 36 boxes of sealed grand jury material.
Will there be any surprises in what Smith writes? Although much of the story around January 6th has long been public—and the House January 6th Committee’s [final report](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-J6-REPORT/pdf/GPO-J6-REPORT.pdf) is impressively comprehensive—the scope of the damage to national security inflicted by Trump’s cavalier handling of classified information remains secret.
Which brings us to the question of whether Garland will publish Smith’s reports. The regulations say that it is exclusively up to the attorney general to determine whether “public release of these reports would be in the public interest.” Presumably, he will make large parts of the report public—as he did with Special Counsel [Robert Hur’s report](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/09/garland-decision-release-hur-report-00140806) regarding classified documents found at the home of the president who appointed him, Joe Biden, a move that triggered sharp critiques from the left.
Looming over Smith’s and Garland’s decisions is the specter of the ex-president who is now the incoming president. Trump has promised vengeance through his Justice Department, which he announced on Wednesday will be led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as attorney general, if Trump gets his way.
Join
It’s worth keeping an eye on two categories of information that could be released in Smith’s final reports: classified information and grand jury records. Biden could declassify parts of the Mar-a-Lago records for no other reason than to preserve for posterity the facts regarding Trump’s alleged national security crimes. If the records of the investigation aren’t declassified and published before the change in administrations, Trump will undoubtedly order them all destroyed—an action that the Supreme Court’s ruling in *Trump v. U.S.* would insulate from scrutiny.
As for the grand jury material, which underlies both cases, it can only be released under [Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure](https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcrmp/rule_6) if U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in D.C. (possible) and U.S. Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida (impossible) sign off. (That’s how Starr [made public](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-impeachment/starr-submits-report-house/) the Clinton grand jury material.)”
Just publish everything at this point.
It’s not going to be acted on, so why does Dear Leader need to worry?
He won’t, of course.
I think Garland still hopes to be appointed to the Suoremes, and has been instrumental in helping Trump run out the clock.
Give the report to Biden and let him release it. He can say he considers informing the public about the president-elect to be an official act.
It will never ever see the light of day.
Shhh! Don’t wake him up. He is dreaming of doing something about something sometime.
No one would believe it anyways. Just keep a copy somewhere safe for a historical record.
He will but the American public can’t read.
I am sure MAGA would be disturbed if they could read.
Garland ain’t doing shit. Never was going to. Worst hire Biden made.
Joe should release everything. The man’s got immunity from prosecution after all.
Indubitably and the 14th amendment should be enforced but won’t happen since rules for thee.
It constantly amazes me how spineless and weak the Democrats are
He won’t.
Spoiler alert : he won’t. Worst hire of the Biden administration.
I’m amazed by level of delusion here…so let me spell it out, THEY DON’T CARE, nobody cares, the voters don’t care, the repubs don’t care, the media doesn’t care…even if it is released, there will be zero consequences…it will be a blip on a radar; just as a reminder, AG is a child rapist, idiot with a brainworm is responsible for health, russian asset is head of intelligence and an idiot is in charge of the military…nobody will care about this report, too much reading for average american voter…the world is fucked
Stop hoping that feckless wimp will save us.
He’s not gonna start doing his job now lol
Can we get a little dark brandon before he’s gone? Come on Joe do something with the little time you have left in office
“People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook.”
If your current government is complicit in the current actions and the future actions of a fascist Trump presidency, and does nothing to stop it, what does that tell you.
Nobody will care. Nothing will happen. It’ll be news for one day. We’re in a declining country that’s eating itself alive from the inside out. The Republicans use guns to fight their battles and the Democrats use Nerf Bats. Oklahoma just voted to put Trump bibles in schools and eliminate the “irreconcilable differences” clause for divorce. They want to keep people poor, dumb, pregnant, married and Christian. Watch what happens in Oklahoma, because that’s the Republican dream.
He won’t. He failed the US, he’s not about to try save face now.
Must, yes..
Won’t, also yes
Merrick Garland is a dumbshit who could have put this mess to rest but did nothing because he’s an absolute moron who doesn’t care for democracy
They were crimes before he was re-elected and they are still crimes. Every time they fold like this it lends credence to the idea of it being a politically motivated witch hunt instead of the actual desperately needed justice and sunlight that it is.
Merrick Garland is a flaccid failure.
Fuck Merrick Garland..Spineless coward history will not be kind.
Merrick Garland must go home ASAP. He is personally responsible for much that’s happening these days!
As for the OP, non of these reports had any effect in the past. Democrats continue with this futile line for 9 years. Trump was impeached not once, but twice! It’s without precedent and…a total waste of time. Investigations – from Robert Mueller (2 years of waste) to congressional committee didn’t yield anything! “It’s for the protocol” they said! “For the history”…Give us a break!
He is WORTHLESS
Garland can’t even order a pizza without thinking about how republicans are gonna react to that
I wonder what Merrick “Do Nothing” Garland will do with his last few days of freedom.
Merrick Garland, in order to not appear partisan, has decided to go ahead and consistently do things that benefit the conservatives.
Don’t rush him guys! He only started the job 32 months ago. Give him time to orient himself before he gets down to business.
It was obvious what Garland was doing when he ran the clock out on the statutes for some of Trump’s crimes, and explicit when he went up and said he was the reason that nothing was being pursued. The only way he does anything about this is if he thinks it benefits him.
“It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it.”
Kind of a blessing in disguise this guy isn’t a life appointment to the Supreme Court. He’s useless.
I like how people are pretending like this is going to fucking matter whatsoever… nobody cares, folks. Nobody cares.
Biden fucked the country with this appointment.
Garland is an embarrassment, and helped shield Trump and the GOP..
Fucking should have got it before the election. In the words of that one judge releasing it would impact the election and not releasing it would impact the election.
He will not, though. Merrick Garland is and has always been a Trump supporter.
Does not matter whether he admits it. Does not even matter if Merrick Garland himself fails to realize it. Everything he has done has supported Convicted Felon Trump.