A federal judge has dismissed the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump, in a ruling that removes a significant legal challenge for him. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith violated the Constitution, although she did not address the merits of Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents.
In her 93-page ruling, Cannon criticized the recent trend of appointing special counsels with little judicial oversight. The ruling comes just as the Republican National Convention begins, and follows a failed assassination attempt on Trump over the weekend.
Trump, reacting on Truth Social, called the dismissal a first step and urged for other charges against him to be dropped, labeling them as political attacks. The Justice Department, however, plans to appeal the decision, emphasizing that the Attorney General is authorized to appoint a Special Counsel.
Smith had charged Trump with taking classified documents from the White House and resisting government efforts to retrieve them. Trump faces additional charges in other cases related to the 2020 election and a hush money scheme.
Cannon’s decision highlighted the controversy over the special counsel’s appointment and funding. The case’s future remains uncertain as the Justice Department explores options for continuing the investigation.
