Federal judge dismisses classified documents case against Trump
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (TND) — A federal judge in Florida has dismissed the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled Monday the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith to the investigation violated the appointments clause of the U.S. Constitution, noting he was not named by the president or confirmed by the Senate. She wrote in the 93-page ruling Smith's involvement threatened "the structural liberty inherent in the separation of powers."
"That role cannot be usurped by the executive branch or diffused elsewhere – whether in this case or in another case, whether in times of heightened national need or not," Cannon wrote.
In the end, it seems the Executive’s growing comfort in appointing ‘regulatory’ special counsels in the more recent era has followed an ad hoc pattern with little judicial scrutiny," she added.Trump was accused in 2021 of illegally retaining classified government documents, resulting in a raid of his Mar-a-Lago estate. The former president pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Justice Department has authorized an appeal to the ruling, according to a spokesperson for Smith. Smith wrote on X Monday the prosecution has "lots of options," calling the matter "far from over."
"[Cannon] had all but assured a delay by slow walking the proceedings. She did what was asked of her by Trump. Buy him time," he said. "She knows this case isn't going away on a procedural issue."
Trump cheered the decision in a post to Truth Social Monday, calling it the "first step" in "Uniting our Nation after the horrific events on Saturday."The ruling comes just two days after an assassination attempt at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pa.
The former president called for the eventual dismissal of all "Witch Hunts" against him in the post.
The Democrat Justice Department coordinated ALL of these Political Attacks, which are an Election Interference conspiracy against Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, ME," he wrote. "Let us come together to END all Weaponization of our Justice System, and Make America Great Again!"The ruling also coincides with the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Cannon's decision effectively ends one of four criminal cases against Trump. Legal experts have previously considered the classified documents case to be the strongest one against the former president.
Cannon was nominated by Trump to serve as a U.S. district judge in 2020.
This is a developing story. Stay with TND for updates.
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