In a stunning development, a federal judge in Florida dismissed the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump, siding with defense lawyers who argued that the special counsel who filed the charges was illegally appointed by the Justice Department. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon’s decision, which can be appealed, brought an abrupt conclusion to a case that was seen as a significant legal threat to Trump. The case involved allegations that Trump had illegally hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and obstructed FBI efforts to retrieve them. Trump had pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.
The defense team filed several challenges to the case, including one that claimed special counsel Jack Smith had been unlawfully appointed under the Constitution’s Appointments Clause because he was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland instead of being confirmed by Congress. Judge Cannon’s 93-page order granting a defense request to dismiss the case cited the constitutional issue and emphasized the separation of powers between the branches of government. She highlighted the importance of congressional approval for the appointment of a special counsel with the powers of a United States Attorney.
Judge Cannon’s decision is a significant legal victory for Trump, who is recovering from a weekend assassination attempt and preparing to accept the Republican nomination in Milwaukee. The handling of the case by Cannon, a Trump appointee, has drawn attention and scrutiny. She had previously appointed an independent arbiter to review the classified documents recovered during a search of Mar-a-Lago, a decision that was later overturned by a federal appeals panel. Cannon’s slow issuance of rulings and willingness to consider defense arguments have been seen as beneficial to Trump’s legal strategy.
The special counsel’s team had vigorously disputed the Appointments Clause argument during hearings before Judge Cannon, asserting that even if she ruled in favor of the defense team, the case should not be dismissed. The team had also pointed out that similar challenges had been rejected in other courts involving prosecutions by other Justice Department special counsels. However, Judge Cannon remained unconvinced and ultimately sided with the defense. The special counsel’s office had not immediately commented on the ruling, and the Trump team had not yet provided a statement in response.
Overall, Judge Cannon’s order to dismiss the case against former President Donald Trump is a significant legal development in one of the criminal cases he faced. The decision is based on the argument that the appointment of the special counsel was unconstitutional due to the lack of congressional approval. While the ruling can be appealed, it represents a substantial legal victory for Trump, who had been facing multiple felony counts related to the alleged hoarding of classified documents. The handling of the case by Judge Cannon, a Trump appointee, has been closely scrutinized, and her decision to dismiss the charges adds to the ongoing legal battles surrounding the former president.
