Special counsel Jack Smith filed a motion in federal court on Monday seeking to have charges against President-elect Donald Trump dismissed. The request is based on a long-established Justice Department principle that provides immunity to sitting presidents from being prosecuted while in office.

This development signifies a conclusion to a significant effort by the Justice Department to hold Trump accountable for what prosecutors described as a criminal conspiracy aimed at maintaining power prior to the assault by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In the court filings, prosecutors articulated that the Justice Department’s stance is that the Constitution mandates the dismissal of this case prior to the defendant’s upcoming inauguration.

This anticipated decision follows actions by Smith’s team to evaluate the closure of both the case regarding alleged interference in the 2020 election and a separate investigation into classified documents. The Justice Department concluded that, according to its longstanding policy, Trump is no longer subject to prosecution given his recent electoral victory against Vice President Kamala Harris.