In a significant legal victory for former President Donald Trump, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has dismissed the criminal case against him regarding the alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The ruling, issued on July 15, 2024, centers on the judge’s determination that the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutional.Judge Cannon, a Trump appointee, ruled that Smith’s appointment violated the Constitution’s Appointments Clause, arguing that there is no statute in the U.S. Code that authorizes the appointment of a special prosecutor to conduct this prosecution. The judge also found that Smith’s office was improperly funded by the Department of Justice.The case against Trump included charges of obstruction of justice and illegal retention of classified documents, with prosecutors alleging that he kept approximately 300 classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after leaving office. The FBI had recovered at least 100 such documents during a search and seizure operation.This ruling removes what was widely considered the most serious of the criminal cases facing the former president. Trump, who had pleaded not guilty to all 37 criminal charges, celebrated the decision on his Truth Social platform and called for the dismissal of all other cases against him.The decision comes at a crucial time for Trump, as he is expected to be formally nominated as the Republican presidential candidate this week in Milwaukee. However, legal experts have expressed concerns about the ruling, with some suggesting that Judge Cannon may be biased in favor of Trump.The Department of Justice is likely to appeal the decision, which could potentially reach the Supreme Court. If the appeals court reverses the decision, Special Counsel Smith may request Judge Cannon’s removal from the case due to perceived bias.This ruling follows a recent Supreme Court decision that granted former presidents broad immunity for their official acts while in office. However, Trump still faces other legal challenges, including charges in Washington, D.C., and Georgia related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Key points
- Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case against Donald Trump, citing the unconstitutional appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith.
- The ruling removes a major legal threat for Trump as he seeks to return to the White House.
- The Department of Justice is likely to appeal the decision, which could potentially reach the Supreme Court.
- Trump still faces other legal challenges, including cases related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Contradictions👾Some sources report that Judge Cannon ruled Smith’s appointment unconstitutional, while others state she found it illegal.
This discrepancy may be due to different interpretations or translations of the legal terminology used in the ruling.
