2024 Election

Major Win for Trump: Judge Dismisses Florida Classified Documents Case

Published

July 15, 2024

In a major legal victory for former President Donald Trump, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has dismissed the classified documents case against him. The judge ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional because he was not confirmed by the Senate, thus violating the Appointments Clause. This case involved 37 felony counts against Trump, including willful retention of national defense information and conspiracy to obstruct justice, related to classified materials found at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

The charges arose after an FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, where numerous classified documents were seized. Prosecutors alleged that Trump had mishandled these documents, posing a threat to national security and obstructing efforts to retrieve them. Trump’s defense maintained that he had the authority to declassify the documents and characterized the investigation as a politically motivated attack.

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Judge Cannon’s ruling highlighted the constitutional requirements for appointing a special counsel, stating that the lack of Senate confirmation invalidated Smith’s actions and the subsequent indictment. This decision not only halts this particular legal battle for Trump but could also influence other investigations and cases against him.

Reacting to the news, Laura Ingraham tweeted, “Jack Smith’s position was neither constitutionally nor statutorily created, and this is at the heart of Judge Cannon’s opinion. His role was created by AG Garland via regulatory fiat without the traditional notice and comment period. There has been an ongoing legal debate and scholarship about this question, and to say her opinion is radical or out of bounds is pure political posturing.”

Jack Smith’s position was neither constitutionally nor statutorily created, and this is at the heart of the Judge Cannon opinion. His role was created by AG Garland via regulatory fiat without the traditional notice and comment period. There has been an ongoing legal debate and…
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) July 15, 2024

Special Counsel Smith’s office has expressed disappointment with the decision and intends to appeal. Legal analysts are closely monitoring the situation, as the appeal’s outcome could have broader implications for the appointment and powers of special counsels in the future.