CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Notes Trump Charges Could Be Brought Back ‘When He’ll Be 82 Years Old’
CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins made a pair of sharp observations about the charges against President-elect Donald Trump that were just dropped by the special counsel.
In October, a blockbuster filing from Special Counsel Jack Smith, which contained new evidence and bombshell revelations in the Jan. 6 case — dropped just a month before the election. The new filing was revised to deal with the Supreme Court’s sweeping immunity ruling.
But on Monday, Smith filed a motion to drop the charges, in line with the Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president, and Judge Tanya Chutkan granted the motion.
On Monday night’s edition of CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins, Collins summarized the news, and took the opportunity to note that the charges were the product of a grand jury “made up of American citizens” and that they could be revived once Trump leaves office:
KAITLAN COLLINS: The President-Elect is free and clear in both of his federal criminal cases, after the Special Counsel, Jack Smith, dropped all charges today. But will he still issue a report? And if so, what will it say?
And fallout from a story that was first reported here on CNN. One of Donald Trump’s closest and most trusted advisers now under investigation by Trump’s own attorneys. And Trump himself is weighing in tonight.
I’m Kaitlan Collins. And this is THE SOURCE.
Both of those striking federal cases that made history against Donald Trump have now been dismissed, and the only U.S. President to ever be criminally charged is now fully reaping the benefits of winning back the White House.
Special Counsel, Jack Smith, moved to drop his charges, in the election interference and the classified documents cases, given the long-standing Justice Department policy that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted.
Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington quickly granted Jack Smith’s request today. And of course, down in Florida, Judge Aileen Cannon had dismissed that documents, case over the summer, as Smith was trying to revive it, but now is no longer doing so. It may not be the last that we hear of that case, though, because others were indicted there as well.
More on that in a moment with our experts.
But tonight, Jack Smith made sure to mention this, in his filings. He said, quote, “The Government’s position on the merits of the defendant’s prosecution has not changed… the circumstances have.” Those circumstances, of course, being Trump’s reelection to office.
It’s been an extraordinary turn of events since Smith first announced these indictments, which I should remind you, were handed down by grand juries made up of American citizens.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK SMITH, SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: Charging Donald J. Trump with felony violations of our national security laws as well as participating in a conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Charging Donald J. Trump with conspiring to defraud the United States, conspiring to disenfranchise voters, and conspiring and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding.
We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Of course, not everyone. The President-Elect, reveling in this major victory, posting, “I persevered, against all odds, and WON.”
Now, Jack Smith left the door open for charges to be brought again in the future, after Trump leaves office in 2029, when he’ll be 82-years- old.
Watch above via CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins.
