Tuesday Briefing: Trump’s criminal cases likely to be dismissed

November 26, 2024

	By Justin Porter

Good morning. We’re covering a move to drop criminal cases against Donald Trump and a possible cease-fire deal in Lebanon.

Plus, the thrill of wildlife spotting in Borneo.

Jack Smith in a suit holds a brown leather folder.

Jack Smith, the U.S. prosecutor who investigated and charged Donald Trump. Doug Mills/The New York Times

Prosecutor moved to dismiss criminal charges against Trump

Jack Smith, the special counsel, asked a federal judge in Washington and a court in Atlanta yesterday to dismiss two indictments against President-elect Donald Trump: one accusing him of attempting to overturn the 2020 election and one accusing him of illegally holding classified documents.

In his requests, Smith made clear that the moves had nothing to do with the strength of the cases against Trump, but rather the Justice Department’s policy that sitting presidents may not be prosecuted. “Based on the department’s interpretation of the Constitution,” Smith wrote, “the government moves for dismissal without prejudice of the superseding indictment.”

The requests were Smith’s final acknowledgment that after two years of courtroom drama, prosecutors will not be able to hold Trump accountable for trying to undo the 2020 election, or for accusations that he illegally kept scores of classified documents after he left office. But both filings left open the possibility that the charges could be refiled after Trump completes his term.

More on Trump

Trump has named two billionaires to important economic posts. Will they help the working class?
Steven Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, has prior ties to oil-rich nations in the area.
Natalie Harp, a devoted Trump aide, is poised to become the primary conduit for information to and from the president.
Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate leader, is giving up his post in the next Congress. His plans could put him at odds with Trump.
Here’s the latest on the next U.S. administration and a list of Trump’s cabinet picks so far.

Smoke billows from multiple Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon.

The aftermath of Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York Times

A decision on a cease-fire for Lebanon is close, officials said

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was scheduled to meet with his cabinet today to decide on a proposal for a cease-fire with Hezbollah, officials said. U.S. officials have been putting pressure on Israel to finalize a deal before Thursday.

Under the proposal, Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days. Hezbollah would move north, away from the Israeli border, officials said. Then the Lebanese Army would deploy south, effectively creating a buffer zone along the Israeli border.

Sticking points: One remaining hurdle appears to be that Israel wants the ability to take military action if Hezbollah militants break the truce or if the Lebanese Army fails to keep them away from the border, according to two Israeli officials. Hard-line factions in Netanyahu’s coalition have also opposed a deal, with Israel’s national security minister saying it would be a “big mistake.”

On the ground: Every night, dozens of people gather on a hillside on the outskirts of Beirut to watch Israeli airstrikes rain down.

A crowd of people with their hands in the air. In the background are shipping containers that were used as barricades to contain the crowd.

Supporters of the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Aamir Qureshi/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Thousands protested for Khan’s release in Pakistan

Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan, the jailed former prime minister, marched to the outskirts of Islamabad yesterday to demand his release, despite a government lockdown and violent police opposition. At least one officer was killed, and several officers and demonstrators were injured, the government said.

Context: Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and faces more than 150 criminal cases, but he remains hugely popular despite the effort by the military-backed civilian government to suppress his support. His party says the cases are politically motivated.

MORE TOP NEWS

A military vehicle with a canvas top driving past destroyed buildings.

A Ukrainian military vehicle passing into Russia in August. David Guttenfelder for The New York Times

Russia: State media reported that Russian forces captured a British volunteer for the Ukrainian Army during fighting in the Kursk region.
Philippines: Political turmoil escalated after Vice President Sara Duterte claimed to have arranged for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to be assassinated if she were slain.
U.A.E.: The authorities announced the arrests of three Uzbek nationals in connection with the kidnapping and murder of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi.
Uruguay: Yamandú Orsi, a onetime mayor and history teacher, won the presidential election.
Haiti: A surge in gang violence over the past two weeks has led international aid organizations to rethink their staff levels.
Romania: The country was thrown into political disarray by the surprise victory of a little-known ultranationalist in the first round of a presidential election held this weekend.
Lithuania: A DHL cargo plane crashed in a residential area near Vilnius Airport, killing one person on board.
Britain: At least three people were killed in England and Wales amid sweeping floods.

Sports

Tim Warner/Getty Images

Baseball: The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a three-year, $63 million deal with Yusei Kikuchi, a left-handed pitcher.
Maui Invitational: The beloved men’s college basketball tournament returns this week to a local economy still recovering from the 2023 wildfires.
Soccer: Here are 16 reasons Manchester City has lost five matches in a row.

MORNING READ

Four images showing a Sunda leopard cat, Bornean orangutans, pygmy elephant and small-toothed palm civet.

Clockwise from top left: Sunda leopard cat, Bornean orangutans, pygmy elephant and small-toothed palm civet. Mihir Zaveri

The Southeast Asian island of Borneo is home to some of the world’s strangest creatures, including orangutans, pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys. For a growing number of “mammal watchers,” the island is the perfect place to chase the thrill of discovery.

But this is an endangered Eden: Palm oil plantations are replacing large swaths of rainforest, and the wildlife is paying the price. My colleague Mihir Zaveri, an avid mammal watcher, recently traveled there with his father. This is what he saw.

Lives lived: Charles Dumont, who wrote “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” and other enduring songs for Édith Piaf, died at 95.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

A writer’s secret muse: Debate is swirling over Cormac McCarthy’s relationship with a girl he met when she was 16 — and just how much she influenced his work.
Flying nightmares: For travelers who have experienced blown-out doors, engines on fire and other in-air emergencies, the pain lingers.
Dating app fatigue: Old-school personal ads are thriving in Vermont, where they have proved to be a surprisingly effective way to find love.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times .

ARTS AND IDEAS

Sunlight reflects off a large visor worn by a woman standing in front of a gray-bricked wall. She is looking at her phone.

Amanda Hakan for The New York Times

The comedy of pain, and Korean food

The comedian Youngmi Mayer is fearless and unfiltered on her podcast “Feeling Asian” and on TikTok, where she riffs about her Korean American identity and foodie culture.

But her new memoir, “I’m Laughing Because I’m Crying,” is less about making jokes and more about unpacking generational trauma. Mayer, however, sees that as foundational for comedy.

“I come from the strongest people, who have been through the worst of humanity, and the jokes were what made it possible for us to continue,” she wrote. Read more here.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Christopher Testani for The New York Times

Cook: Meet the bite-size appetizer cousin of the grilled cheese.

Read: These 10 picture books will help kids (and adults) celebrate gratitude.

Shop: Don’t knock the monochrome. Black and white clothes can be festive, too.

Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you next time. — Justin

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