By Smartencyclopedia & Agencies
In a major legal victory for former President Donald Trump, a Florida judge has dismissed the U.S. Justice Department’s classified documents case against him. This decision comes shortly after a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump.
Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, granted the former president’s motion to dismiss the federal case because the Justice Department’s appointment of special prosecutor Jack Smith violates the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Trump had pleaded not guilty to several charges related to his handling of classified documents, including the willful retention of national defense information. These charges stemmed from the discovery of dozens of classified files at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, found in locations such as a shower and a storage room after he left the White House in 2021.
In her 93-page order, Judge Cannon stated, “The Court is convinced that Special Counsel Smith’s prosecution of this action breaches two structural cornerstones of our constitutional scheme—the role of Congress in the appointment of constitutional officers, and the role of Congress in authorizing expenditures by law.”
The case had accused Trump of multiple felonies, including obstructing the investigation into his handling of the documents. Alongside Trump, his aide Walt Nauta and former employee Carlos de Oliveira, who also pleaded not guilty, were charged.
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith in 2022 to oversee two federal investigations into Trump. Judge Cannon’s ruling, however, applies only to this case and not to the second one overseen by Smith regarding alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump’s lawyers did not request the dismissal of that case.
Judge Cannon had previously postponed the federal classified documents trial indefinitely, citing significant questions over trial evidence. Her latest ruling challenges the legitimacy of special counsels based on their appointment and funding, a stance that contrasts with rulings from other U.S. courts.
This decision draws on theories from conservative legal scholars and notably from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. In a recent presidential immunity case, the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents, including Trump, are immune from criminal prosecution for “official acts.” Judge Cannon referenced Justice Thomas’s concurring opinion, which questioned the legal basis for appointing special counsels.
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani described Judge Cannon’s ruling as “stunning, to say the least.” While Judge Cannon limited her decision to this case, Rahmani suggested it casts doubt on the appointment of special counsels in other cases, including the investigation and conviction of Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, on gun charges.
Legal experts anticipate that Judge Cannon’s ruling will likely be overturned on appeal, but they acknowledge that the delay could benefit Trump’s campaign. “Her ruling has no chance of being sustained on appeal as it conflicts with decisions of the Supreme Court and other lower courts, but it will have the effect of preventing any more embarrassing revelations before the election,” said David Super, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center.
The special counsel has not yet commented on Judge Cannon’s ruling. This decision also coincides with the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Trump is expected to accept the party’s nomination for president.
Reacting to the dismissal, Trump posted on his social media site that this should be “just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts.” He called for an end to the “Weaponization of our Justice System” and to “Make America Great Again.”
While many Republican lawmakers celebrated the decision, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, called the dismissal a “breathtakingly misguided ruling.”
Trump faces other legal challenges, including his conviction for falsifying business records in a New York hush-money case and his indictment on charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Despite these, Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing.