Summary
A judge has stopped the release of a report by former Special Counsel Jack Smith about President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home. The judge, Aileen Cannon, ruled that making the report public would harm Trump and said Smith was acting without proper authority. The case against Trump for keeping classified information was dismissed after he became president again in 2024.
Key Facts
- A U.S. judge blocked the release of Jack Smith's report on Trump's handling of classified documents.
- The report involved files found at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, taken after his first term as president.
- Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump, stated releasing the report would unfairly harm him.
- Trump faced charges in 2023 for retaining classified information, but the case was dismissed after his 2024 re-election.
- Cannon ruled that Smith lacked authority to charge Trump because his appointment was unconstitutional.
- The justice department cannot prosecute a sitting president, leading Smith to drop the appeal in 2024.
- Smith's report was given to former Attorney General Merrick Garland, who made part of it public.
- Cannon emphasized that defendants should remain presumed innocent without proven accusations.
