What Happened
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has blocked the public release of former special counsel Jack Smith’s report regarding the investigation into whether President Donald Trump mishandled classified documents. This ruling was issued in an order filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Why It Matters
Cannon, a Trump appointee, stated that the report should remain confidential due to the “unlawful appointment” of Special Counsel Smith and the deliberative-process determination made by Attorney General Bondi. She emphasized the presumption of innocence for the former defendants, including Trump, and noted that disclosing the report could lead to manifest injustice. This decision comes after Cannon previously dismissed the classified documents case in July 2024, a ruling that the Justice Department under President Joe Biden appealed.
What’s Next
The Justice Department had initially appealed Cannon’s dismissal of the case but dropped the appeal following Trump’s election victory, adhering to its policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Outside groups are now pressing for the release of the documents report amid ongoing legal discussions. Cannon also rejected a request to destroy the report, indicating that the legal battle surrounding this case is far from over.
