Summary
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has been given 60 days by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to decide on whether to release a secret report by Special Counsel Jack Smith. This report concerns President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents. The decision is closely watched because the report contains important information about a major federal investigation.
Key Facts
- Judge Aileen Cannon must decide in two months whether to release a confidential report on President Trump's handling of classified materials.
- The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued this 60-day deadline on November 3, 2025.
- The report, Volume II, has been withheld since January 21, 2025, following Judge Cannon's order.
- Transparency groups argue for the release, stating there's no legal reason to keep it sealed after the related case was dismissed in July 2024.
- The Justice Department and former defendants Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira oppose the intervention by transparency groups.
- The Eleventh Circuit's directive does not require a response from the parties involved, according to court rules.
- If the release injunction is lifted, the Justice Department must give 60 days' notice before releasing any part of the report.
- The report's findings are significant as they relate to a major inquiry into national security document handling at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump's residence.
