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Judge Dismisses Donald Trump's Classified Documents Case

Jul 15, 2024 09:31AM ● By News Desk

A federal judge has dismissed the indictment against former president Donald Trump in the classified documents case, citing the improper appointment of special counsel Jack Smith, according to a court filing on Monday.

U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon’s ruling marks a significant victory for Trump, whose legal team has repeatedly put forth various arguments to dismiss the case. While other courts have rejected similar arguments regarding the legality of Smith’s appointment, Cannon's decision stands out.

Even if overturned by a higher court, the dismissal adds to a series of recent legal wins for Trump, including a notable Supreme Court ruling that grants former presidents broad immunity for their official actions while in office.

Trump’s legal team viewed the classified document case as the most formidable of the four criminal cases against him, largely because the acts in question occurred after his presidency. Cannon's decision comes as Trump is set to be formally nominated as the Republican presidential nominee, with the Republican National Convention starting in Milwaukee on Monday.

A spokesman for Smith did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In her detailed decision, Cannon emphasized the novelty of the special counsel issue, stating it needed resolution before prosecution could proceed. She concluded in her 93-page order that Smith’s prosecution violated fundamental constitutional principles regarding the roles of Congress in appointing constitutional officers and authorizing expenditures.

The theory that Smith was illegally appointed and funded has been largely seen as implausible. Trump’s legal team did not raise this argument in court until conservative legal groups advocated for it. Notably, they did not request a dismissal of Trump’s federal election interference case in D.C., despite Smith’s similar appointment by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The argument gained traction after Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas suggested in a presidential immunity case that the special counsel’s office should be established by Congress and Smith should be confirmed by the Senate. Thomas encouraged lower courts to examine this issue, adding his concurring opinion to the immunity ruling to highlight potential constitutional violations in the prosecution.


This is an ongoing story, please check back for updates.