Former acting U.S. attorney Jack Smith was appointed in November 2022 to oversee the investigation into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his associates to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Here is how the special counsel probe has unfolded.

Nov. 18, 2022

Attorney General Merrick Garland names Jack Smith as special counsel to oversee all of the Justice Department's criminal investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election, as well as the unlawful retention of national defense information at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. The announcement is made after Trump announces his candidacy for president for a third time, creating a potential conflict of interest for the Justice Department.

Smith previously held the position of chief prosecutor for the special court in The Hague, responsible for investigating war crimes in Kosovo.

Nov. 22, 2022

Smith issues subpoenas to officials from numerous states that Trump and his allies targeted in their failed effort to overturn his election loss to Joe Biden.

According to a copy of a subpoena obtained by
, the Justice Department seeks any and all records related to communications by state election officials with Trump or his advisers and allies, including Kenneth Chesebro, Justin Clark, Joe DiGenova, John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, Boris Epshteyn, Bernard Kerik, Bruce Marks, Cleta Mitchell, Matthew Morgan, Kurt Olsen, William Olsen, Stefan Passantino, Sidney Powell, Bill Stepien, Victoria Toensing, James Troupis and Lin Wood, between June 1, 2020, and Jan. 20, 2021.

Dec. 2, 2022

Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone and his deputy Pat Philbin testify before the federal grand jury investigating the events surrounding the Jan. 6, sources familiar with the matter tell
.

These appearances follow a judge's ruling against Trump's lawyers who argued that testimony from Trump's former top White House aides was protected by executive privilege.

Dec. 13, 2022

reports that Smith has issued subpoenas to election officials in Georgia and New Mexico , including the secretary of state's offices in both states and officials in Georgia's Cobb County, for communications with or involving Trump, his 2020 campaign aides, and a list of Trump allies involved in his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Jan. 11, 2023

reports that multiple associates of Trump have received new, wide-ranging subpoenas from Smith, requesting documents and records far more expansive than the previous outreaches these individuals received from the Department of Justice before Smith's appointment.

Feb. 22, 2023

reports that Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, both former senior White House advisers, have been subpoenaed by the special counsel.

The special counsel seeks information from the couple specifically related to his probe of Jan. 6 and the activities leading up to that day by the former president and his allies, sources tell
.

March 6, 2023

Trump is seeking to prevent the special counsel from using Cipollone and Philbin's testimony before the federal grand jury as evidence in his ongoing probe, sources tell
.

April 20, 2023

Top Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn meets with special counsel prosecutors, sources tell
.

Sources indicate that Smith personally attends a portion of Epshteyn's interview, but does not take part in any of the questioning.

April 27, 2023

A day after a federal appeals panel rejects an effort from Trump to prevent former Vice President Mike Pence from testifying in the special counsel's probe, Pence appears before the grand jury, sources tell
.

April 28, 2023

A firm contracted by Trump's presidential campaign in November 2020 to investigate claims of voter fraud has been subpoenaed by the special counsel investigating those claims, the founder of the firm tells
.

Ken Block, the founder of Simpatico Software Systems, says he was subpoenaed to provide documents related to his work with the Trump campaign. His firm was the second one hired by the campaign that reported no widespread evidence of voter fraud.

June 6, 2023

reports that Trump's last White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows , has testified before the grand jury.

Sources say that Meadows answered questions about both Trump's efforts to change the outcome of the 2020 election and Trump's alleged improper handling of classified documents while he was no longer in office.

June 8, 2023

Trump is charged with federal crimes related to the special counsel's parallel investigation into the former president's management of classified information after leaving office.

Five days later, Trump enters a plea of not guilty to the 37-count indictment. The indictment accuses him of repeatedly refusing to return hundreds of documents containing classified information, which includes everything from U.S. nuclear secrets to national defense information.

June 26, 2023

reports that agents from the United States Secret Service have testified before the grand jury probing efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Sources reveal that agents provided evidence to the grand jury investigating potential criminal activity related to the January 6th attack.

June 27, 2023

reports that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is expected to sit for an interview with special counsel investigators.

Raffensperger, the top election official in Georgia, was the recipient of Trump's notorious phone call in January 2021, during which the then-president asked Raffensperger to "find" the exact number of votes he needed to win the state.

July 13, 2023

reports that among those who have testified before the grand jury are Trump's son-in-law and former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, and former top Trump aide Hope Hicks.

July 16, 2023

Smith officially notifies Trump in writing that he is a subject of his investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.

The letter, according to sources, was sent to Trump's legal team, suggesting that an indictment of the former president could be forthcoming.

July 18, 2023

reports that special counsel prosecutors have contacted officials in Nevada, Wisconsin and Arizona as part of 2020 election probe.

Among those contacted is Republican Doug Ducey, the former Arizona governor whom Trump had urged to overturn Arizona's election results following the 2020 election, according to sources.

A Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesperson tells
that the state's chief elections official met with federal investigators in April regarding the probe.

July 20, 2023

reports that at least one more witness, Trump aide Will Russell , is expected to appear before the grand jury.

July 27, 2023

Trump attorneys John Lauro and Todd Blanche meet with Smith's team as a potential indictment of the former president looms, sources tell
.

The attorneys are present to argue why they believe Trump shouldn't be indicted. Smith is attending the meeting, sources indicate.

Aug. 1, 2023

Trump is indicted on charges of engaging in a "criminal scheme" to overturn the 2020 election results by allegedly employing a group of so-called "fake electors" targeting multiple states; utilizing the Justice Department to conduct "phony election crime investigations"; attempting to persuade the vice president to "alter the election results"; and persistently propagating false claims of a stolen election as the January 6th riot unfolded -- all in an effort to subvert democracy and maintain power.

The comprehensive indictment, which also names six alleged unnamed accomplices, charges Trump with four felony offenses: conspiracy to deceive the United States, conspiracy to hinder an official process, obstructing and attempting to obstruct an official process, and conspiracy against rights.

Trump, speaking to
, describes the new charges as a "pile-on" and says "it's election interference" meant to keep him from winning back the presidency.

Aug. 3, 2023

Trump, appearing in a Washington, D.C., courtroom, entered a plea of not guilty to all charges in the special counsel's Jan. 6 indictment. A preliminary hearing before Judge Tanya Chutkan, the judge overseeing the trial, is set for Aug. 28 -- five days after the initial GOP primary debate.

"This is a deeply disheartening day for our nation," Trump stated after his court appearance. "This is an unjust pursuit of a political rival."

Aug. 4, 2023

Smith petitions the court for a protective order to prevent "the inappropriate dissemination or use of discovery materials" so prosecutors can start providing discovery to Trump's legal team in the case.

The legal document refers to a social media post by Trump where the former president states, "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!" -- a message the Trump campaign claims is directed at political groups.

Aug. 9, 2023

reports that a newly revealed memo from Dec. 6, 2020, details a plan by Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro to pursue slates of supposedly "alternate" electors in order to prevent Biden from amassing 270 electoral votes.

Prosecutors contend that Chesebro was collaborating with Trump's legal team to find ways to dispute the election results in order to keep Trump in power.

Aug. 10, 2023

Smith indicates in a court filing that he is seeking a trial commencement date of Jan. 2 for Trump's trial. He projects that presenting his case to a jury in Washington, D.C., will take no more than four to six weeks, according to the filing.

Judge Chutkan is anticipated to establish an initial trial date when the parties meet for a status conference on Aug. 28.

Aug. 11, 2023

Judge Chutkan issues a court order against Trump following a hearing in which she warns him against making "inflammatory statements" about the case and says that his First Amendment rights are "not absolute."

Smith had requested the protective order to prevent "the improper dissemination or use of discovery materials" his team was preparing to turn over to Trump's attorneys for them to prepare Trump's defense. The judge's ruling, issued following the hearing, prohibits the disclosure of a range of "sensitive" materials, including all recordings, transcripts, interview reports and related exhibits shared by the special counsel.

Aug. 17, 2023

Trump's legal team requests that Judge Chutkan schedule the trial for his federal 2020 election interference case for April 2026 -- more than two and a half years away.

The attorneys mention the extensive amount of discovery provided to them by the government -- roughly 11.5 million pages of evidence -- and state in their filing that if they began reviewing the documents today, "we would need to proceed at a rate of 99,762 pages per day to finish the government's initial production by its proposed date for jury selection."

Aug. 28, 2023

Judge Chutkan, at the conclusion of a hearing on the matter, sets the commencement of Trump's trial for March 4, 2024 -- two months after prosecutors had proposed but more than two years before Trump's proposed start date.

The judge concludes the hearing by reiterating her vigilance regarding any actions that could influence the jury pool in Washington, D.C.

Sept. 11, 2023

Trump files a motion requesting Judge Chutkan be removed from the case , citing past cases she oversaw for individuals accused in relation to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, which they claim shows she "suggested that President Trump should be prosecuted and imprisoned."

Sept. 15, 2023

reports that the special counsel has requested that Judge Chutkan impose a "narrowly tailored" order restricting Trump from making public statements that they argue could "present a serious and substantial danger of prejudicing" the case.

Sept. 26, 2023

Attorneys for Trump, in a court filing, object to the special counsel's request for a gag order, calling it an affront to Trump's First Amendment rights as he campaigns for president.

Sept. 28, 2023

Trump's legal team asks the judge overseeing his case for a delay of two months for the filing of pretrial motions, beyond the current deadline of Oct. 9.

Oct. 5, 2023

Trump files a motion to have his case dismissed , citing what his lawyers claim is his "absolute immunity" from prosecution for actions taken while serving in the nation's highest office.

Oct. 10, 2023

The special counsel's team requests Judge Chutkan to implement safeguards for potential jurors , citing Trump's conduct on social media regarding people involved in his various legal battles.

Oct. 16, 2023

Judge Chutkan grants part of the government's request for a narrowly defined gag order against Trump, prohibiting him from making or "reposting" statements "publicly targeting" the special counsel and his staff, as well as Chutkan's staff and the staff of other D.C. district court personnel.

The ruling additionally prevents him from commenting on prospective witnesses in the case and the content of their potential testimony.

Oct. 20, 2023

Judge Chutkan temporarily suspends the limited gag order she had imposed on Trump, following Trump's appeal of her order.

Oct. 24, 2023

reports that former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has spoken with special counsel Jack Smith's team at least three times this year, including once before a federal grand jury, which came only after Smith granted Meadows immunity to testify under oath, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The sources say Meadows informed Smith's team that he repeatedly told Trump in the weeks after the 2020 presidential election that the allegations of significant voting fraud they received were unfounded, and that Trump was being "dishonest" with the public when he first declared to have won the election only hours after polls closed on Nov. 3, 2020, before final results were in.

Oct. 26, 2023

In court filing, the special counsel's team accuses Trump of threatening Mark Meadows in a social media post after
reported that sources said Meadows received immunity to speak with investigators . Smith's team tells Judge Chutkan in the filing that the alleged threat is just one more example of why a limited gag order in the case is needed.

Oct. 30, 2023

Judge Chutkan, in response to Trump's social media statements about Mark Meadows, reimposes the limited gag order she placed on Trump earlier this month after briefly lifting it. Trump subsequently attacks the judge , calling her a "TRUE TRUMP HATER" and questioning her ability to conduct a fair trial.

Nov. 2, 2023

Trump has requested the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to immediately halt Judge Chutkan's limited gag order.

The special counsel, meanwhile, opposes a request from Trump's lawyers to postpone all proceedings in the case until their motion to dismiss the case on immunity grounds is resolved.

Nov. 6, 2023

In a comprehensive legal document responding to Trump's requests to dismiss the case, the special counsel refutes Trump's claim that he cannot face criminal charges in the case because he was acquitted by the Senate following his impeachment after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

Nov. 20, 2023

A Washington, D.C., appeals court, during a hearing, questions prosecutors from the special counsel's office and attorneys representing Donald Trump about the effectiveness of Judge Chutkan's currently suspended limited gag order .

The judges do not immediately issue a ruling on whether the limited gag order should be reimposed.

Nov. 27, 2023

reports that former Vice President Mike Pence, speaking with the special counsel's team earlier this year, told investigators how, in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, then-President Donald Trump surrounded himself with "crank" attorneys, espoused "un-American" legal theories, and almost pushed the country toward a "constitutional crisis," according to sources.

The sources said Pence -- who could testify against Trump should Smith's election interference case go to trial as planned in March -- also told investigators he's "sure" that, in the days before the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, he informed Trump that he still hadn't seen evidence of significant election fraud, but that Trump was unmoved, continuing to claim the election was stolen.

Dec. 5, 2023

Writing that the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was "exactly what the defendant intended," the special counsel, in a court filing, presents additional evidence he plans to introduce at trial, including evidence of Trump's alleged state of mind as his supporters carried out the attack.

Dec. 8, 2023

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals largely affirms Judge Chutkan's limited gag order in the special counsel's case against Trump, which prohibits him from making public statements about potential witnesses in the case as well as attorneys and court personnel.

Dec. 10, 2023

The special counsel's team asks the court to reject Trump's request to stop all proceedings in the case while they appeal Judge Chutkan's presidential immunity order, urging the judge to do everything she can to ensure the March 4 trial date is not delayed.

Dec. 11, 2023

Special counsel Jack Smith's team petitions the Supreme Court to intervene and decide the issue of presidential immunity regarding Trump's federal election interference charges, and within hours, the court announces it will consider the request on an expedited schedule.

This move could be a major gamble for Smith, whose entire case against Trump could depend on a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court that could -- for the first time in American history -- determine whether a former U.S. president can be prosecuted for actions taken while in office.

Dec. 13, 2023

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan grants Trump's request to pause proceedings in the case while the appeals process unfolds. Special counsel Jack Smith's team opposed a complete halt , arguing that they felt certain filings could still be submitted to keep the case on track for its March 4 trial date.

Dec. 20, 2023

Trump's attorneys urge the Supreme Court to stay out of the legal dispute over presidential immunity and deny the special counsel's request for fast-tracked consideration of the issue, urging the justices to let a federal appeals court handle the matter initially.

Dec. 21, 2023

In a legal document , the special counsel reaffirms his stance that the Supreme Court should promptly address the question of Trump's immunity, stating that "The charges in this case are of the utmost seriousness."

Dec. 22, 2023

The Supreme Court declined the special counsel's request to immediately review Trump's claims of immunity from prosecution in the case, allowing a federal appeals court to initially handle the matter.

This ruling effectively prevents the Supreme Court from becoming involved in the case for the time being and could potentially postpone the case's scheduled trial date of March 4th.

Dec. 27, 2023

Special counsel Jack Smith, in a filing, asks Judge Chutkan to prevent Trump from bringing up what Smith describes as "irrelevant" claims that President Biden ordered Trump to be prosecuted and that others are to blame for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Jan. 4, 2024

Attorneys representing Trump ask Judge Chutkan to find special counsel Jack Smith and members of his team in contempt of court for what they claim are "violations" of the current suspension of the case while the appeals process is ongoing. The lawyers argue that Smith's belief that only "deadlines" in the case are currently on hold -- and not the filing of documents -- is inaccurate.

Jan. 7, 2024

reports that the special counsel's team has uncovered previously undisclosed details about Trump's refusal to help stop the Jan. 6 attack as he sat watching TV inside the White House, according to sources familiar with what Smith's team has learned during its probe.

Jan. 9, 2024

A panel of three judges in the Washington, D.C., Court of Appeals listens to arguments regarding Trump's efforts to have his case dismissed based on his claim of presidential immunity. With Trump present, his attorney D. John Sauer contends that a president can only be prosecuted for criminal offenses if they were to be impeached and removed from office first.

Special counsel attorney James Pearce argues that, "If, as I understand my colleague on the other side to be saying, a president orders a SEAL team to assassinate a political opponent and then resigns, for example before an impeachment, it's not a criminal act. I believe that is an extremely alarming prospect."

Jan. 16, 2024

The full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals dismisses an attempt by Twitter to appeal a decision that allowed special counsel Jack Smith to access records from Trump's Twitter account as part of his investigation into federal election interference.

Jan. 18, 2024

Judge Chutkan denies a request by Trump to hold the special counsel in contempt for submitting additional court documents after she had put the case on hold -- however, she instructs that all parties involved in the case are prohibited from making any further significant filings without first seeking her permission.

Jan. 23, 2024

The full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejects Trump's request to take up his appeal of the limited gag order placed on him in the case. The ruling clears the way for Trump to seek to appeal the issue to the Supreme Court if desired.

Feb. 2, 2024

Judge Chutkan delays the March 4 start date for Trump's federal election interference trial, saying she will set a new trial date after the Court of Appeals resolves the question of Trump's presidential immunity.

Feb. 6, 2024

Writing that "We reject all three potential bases for immunity both as a categorical defense to federal criminal prosecutions of former Presidents and as applied to this case in particular," a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals dismisses Trump's claim of presidential immunity as it pertains to his federal election interference case.

Feb. 12, 2024

Trump files an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the justices to halt the appeals court decision in order to allow the appellate process to play out.

Feb. 13, 2024

In response to Trump's request to stay the appeals court decision rejecting his claim of absolute immunity in the January 6th case, the U.S. Supreme Court sets a February 20th deadline for special counsel Jack Smith to respond to Trump's request.

Feb. 14, 2024

In a legal document, special counsel Jack Smith urges the Supreme Court to deny Trump's request to halt proceedings in his January 6th case while he appeals his claim of immunity. Smith requests that if the court intends to review Trump's appeal, it should do so immediately and implement an expedited briefing schedule, aiming for a ruling during this term.

Feb. 28, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to hear the case regarding Trump's claim of broad presidential immunity in the January 6th incident. Oral arguments are set for the week of April 22. This decision further postpones Trump's trial, which had already been halted while he appealed his immunity claim in lower courts.

March 19, 2024

Trump submits a brief to the Supreme Court, formally arguing for absolute presidential immunity from criminal prosecution in his January 6th case. The court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on April 25th.

April 8, 2024

In a legal document, the special counsel urges the Supreme Court to dismiss Trump's appeal claiming immunity from prosecution in the January 6th case. The filing argues that the former president's immunity claim is unprecedented and contradicts the founding fathers' vision for the country.

April 16, 2024

The Supreme Court hears arguments regarding the federal government's charging of hundreds of alleged January 6th rioters with felony obstruction.

April 25, 2024

The Supreme Court hears significant arguments on whether former President Trump can be criminally prosecuted related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, with Trump's attorneys arguing that a president should have "absolute immunity" for any "official acts" while in office.

June 28, 2024

In a ruling, the Supreme Court narrows the scope of a federal obstruction statute used by prosecutors to charge former President Trump as well as more than 300 defendants involved with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, a decision the DOJ says will affect about 52 cases .

July 1, 2024

In a major decision, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that former President Trump is entitled to some protection from prosecution for actions taken to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and sends the case back to the trial court to determine which charges against him can proceed -- effectively delaying any potential trial until after the November election.

Aug. 3, 2024

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, resuming oversight of Trump's election interference case following the Supreme Court's immunity decision, rejects Trump's earlier request to dismiss the case based on selective and vindictive prosecution, and schedules the next hearing in the case for Aug. 16.

Aug. 8, 2024

The special counsel's office asks for more time to respond to a scheduling order from Judge Chutkan, citing issues related to the Supreme Court's immunity decision.

Aug. 9, 2024

Judge Chutkan agrees to the special counsel's request for an extension in responding to a scheduling order, delaying a status report and subsequent status conference by three weeks.

Aug. 27, 2024

Special counsel Jack Smith indicts Trump in an updated legal document revising the original indictment that addresses the same election interference charges, but is streamlined and adapted to align with the Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity.

' Soo Rin Kim, Laura Romero, Lucien Bruggeman, Olivia Rubin, Will Steakin and Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.