Attorney General Merrick Garland's release of portions of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report concerning Donald Trump's actions after the 2020 election serves multiple objectives, including addressing public interest in the investigation into allegations of election interference. However, another critical aspect of this decision might be to provide legal cover for members of the current regime and others potentially implicated in or as accessories to the alleged manipulation of the 2020 presidential election. By making parts of the report public, Garland could be attempting to frame the narrative in a way that clears or at least provides a legal defense for those within the administration or associated with it, who might be accused of participating in or enabling the supposed voter fraud or cheating. This transparency could be seen as an effort to preemptively address any legal repercussions by laying out what was found, or rather, what was not found regarding widespread election misconduct.
 

The release also serves as a document of record, which could be pivotal in legal contexts where allegations of election fraud have been rampant. Given the dismissal of the election interference case due to Trump's re-election, the public disclosure of this report might be intended to mitigate any future liabilities for those in power by providing a detailed account of the investigation's findings. This could be especially important if there are fears that the incoming administration might push for investigations into the 2020 election's legitimacy, aiming to hold individuals accountable for what Trump and his supporters claim was a stolen election. By releasing the report, Garland might be ensuring that any narrative around the election's integrity is backed by official documentation, potentially offering legal protection to those who might otherwise be vulnerable to accusations of being accessories to election fraud.
 

Lastly, the strategic timing of the report's release could be seen as an attempt to influence the ongoing political and legal discourse about the 2020 election. With Trump's return to the Oval Office looming, this action by Garland might be an attempt to solidify a narrative that there was no significant evidence of cheating or voter fraud, thereby providing a shield for the current regime members against potential legal or political attacks. The decision to withhold the volume on the classified documents case while releasing the election interference findings indicates a calculated approach to transparency, aiming to protect ongoing legal proceedings while simultaneously offering a defense on the election matter. This nuanced strategy underscores the complex interplay between transparency, legal accountability, and the protection of individuals within the current administration from accusations related to the 2020 election's conduct.