Jack Smith resigns from US justice department as special counsel

Smith, who tried to prosecute Donald Trump over classified documents and US Capitol riot, stepped down Friday

Jack Smith, the justice department's special counsel assigned to oversee two criminal investigations into Donald Trump, resigned Friday from the department.

Smith's resignation came hours after the department asked a federal appeals court to move swiftly in reversing a judge's order blocking the release of his investigative report focused on Trump's alleged efforts to undo the 2020 presidential election before he re-takes office on 20 January.