Summary
A federal appeals court has instructed Judge Aileen Cannon to decide within 60 days if a report by Special Counsel Jack Smith about President Trump's handling of classified documents can be released. The report remains sealed under an order issued by Cannon, who previously blocked its release citing fair-trial rights of Trump's co-defendants. Several entities are pursuing the release of this report through legal means.
Key Facts
- A federal appeals court ordered Judge Aileen Cannon to rule within 60 days on releasing a report about President Trump's handling of classified documents.
- The report was created by Special Counsel Jack Smith and is currently sealed.
- Judge Cannon blocked the release citing fair-trial rights concerns for Trump's co-defendants.
- Smith was appointed to investigate Trump-related matters, including the handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and election interference.
- Volume I of Smith's report, about the January 6th investigation, was released publicly.
- Transparency groups like the Knight First Amendment Institute and American Oversight are legally challenging for the report's release.
- Appeals Court Judges criticized Cannon for taking too long to rule on the release motions.
- The report's release is considered significant given its details on a major criminal investigation of a national figure.
