In a stunning turn of events, a Florida judge has dismissed the US justice department’s classified documents case against former President Donald Trump, marking a major victory for the embattled politician. The decision comes just days after a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump, adding even more drama to an already tumultuous situation.
Judge Aileen Cannon granted Trump’s motion to dismiss the federal case on the grounds that the justice department’s appointment of special prosecutor Jack Smith violated the Appointments Clause of the US Constitution. Trump had pleaded not guilty to several charges related to the willful retention of national defense information, stemming from the discovery of dozens of classified files at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after he left the White House in 2021.
“The Court is convinced that Special Counsel Smith’s prosecution of this action breaches two structural cornerstones of our constitutional scheme,” Judge Cannon stated in her 93-page order.
The former president was facing 40 felony counts in the case, but Attorney General Merrick Garland’s appointment of Mr. Smith in 2022 to oversee two federal investigations into Trump’s actions ultimately led to the dismissal of the charges. However, Judge Cannon clarified that her ruling only applied to this specific case and not to a separate investigation overseen by Mr. Smith regarding alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Legal experts have been divided on the strength of the cases brought by Mr. Smith, with some questioning the constitutionality of special counsels. Judge Cannon’s ruling, which challenges the appointment and funding of special counsels, goes against previous decisions made by other US courts.
As Republicans gather for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Trump is set to be officially named the party’s nominee for president, the dismissal of the case adds another layer of intrigue to the political landscape. Mr. Smith has the option to appeal the ruling and request a new judge for the case, potentially leading to a Supreme Court showdown.
Trump, who has been embroiled in multiple legal battles, including a recent guilty verdict in a New York hush-money case, took to social media to celebrate the dismissal of the case and called for an end to what he described as “Witch Hunts” against him. Despite the legal challenges he faces, Trump remains defiant and continues to deny any wrongdoing in the various cases brought against him.
