Former President Donald Trump is on track to regain the presidency in what would be a historic comeback, making him only the second U.S. president to serve non-consecutive terms.
As he prepares to take office again, the Justice Department is reportedly moving to drop two federal criminal cases against him. According to NBC News, officials at the DOJ have recognized that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted. This realization makes the ongoing cases related to the January 6 insurrection and classified documents impractical.
NBC News also reports that sources have suggested that Special Counsel Jack Smith, who had been pushing these cases forward quickly, is now confronted with difficult choices about how to wrap them up. There are also questions surrounding whether the charges could be brought back after Trump leaves office and what will happen to the evidence involved in these cases.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had previously called Trump a “despicable human being” and a “narcissist,” has stated during a press briefing on Wednesday that he is happy about the former President’s victory and pleased that Republicans would likely get back their majority in the Senate.
In his statement, McConnell started off by congratulating Trump and praising his campaign team for doing a great job in this election. “What he’s accomplished has not been done … since Grover Cleveland,” he said.
In his victory speech at Mar-a-Lago, Trump declared himself the leader of “the greatest political movement of all time.” His words appeared to have struck a chord with voters worried about increasing living costs and the economic struggles they faced under the Biden administration.
Exit polls revealed that people prioritized the economy, abortion rights, and democracy when they voted. Despite dealing with serious legal issues, Trump managed to gain support from a wide range of voters, including many from rural and working-class backgrounds.