In a stunning and unexpected ruling, Federal District Judge Aileen Cannon has dismissed the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump, delivering a major setback to the high-profile investigation led by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
In a 93-page decision issued on Monday, Judge Cannon ruled that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional, violating the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Cannon argued that Smith’s position had not been properly established by law, and that the Justice Department’s funding of his office was improper.
“The Framers gave Congress a pivotal role in the appointment of principal and inferior officers. That role cannot be usurped by the Executive Branch or diffused elsewhere β whether in this case or in another case, whether in times of heightened national need or not,” Cannon wrote in her ruling.
The decision comes as a major victory for Trump, who has been facing a slew of legal challenges on multiple fronts. The classified documents case was widely seen as one of the most serious threats to the former president, with Trump facing dozens of felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified materials after leaving office.
The ruling also represents a significant setback for the work of Special Counsel Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to oversee the investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents as well as his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
In her ruling, Cannon rejected the arguments made by Smith’s team, who had vigorously contested the defense’s claims about the special counsel’s appointment and funding. The prosecutors had argued that even if the court were to find issues with Smith’s position, the proper remedy would not be to dismiss the entire case.
However, Cannon disagreed, writing that the “unlawful” nature of Smith’s appointment and the “unconditional” funding of his office required the dismissal of the case. “The clerk is directed to close this case,” the judge concluded.
The decision is likely to have far-reaching implications for the broader investigations being led by Special Counsel Smith. While the ruling does not directly impact the separate criminal case against Trump in Washington, D.C. related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, it raises questions about the legal foundation of Smith’s work.
Legal experts have noted that Cannon’s ruling could embolden Trump’s defense team to mount similar challenges in the other cases, potentially jeopardizing the special counsel’s ability to pursue charges against the former president.
The dismissal of the classified documents case also comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Trump camp, as it coincides with the opening day of the Republican National Convention. The timing of the ruling is likely to be seen as a major victory for the former president and his allies, who have long decried the investigations against him as politically motivated.
In the wake of the decision, the Trump team has not yet issued a formal statement, though it is expected that they will seize on the ruling as further evidence of a “witch hunt” against the former president.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department and the Special Counsel’s Office have not yet responded to requests for comment. It remains to be seen whether they will appeal Cannon’s ruling or explore other legal avenues to continue the prosecution of the classified documents case.
The dismissal of the case is also likely to have broader implications for the ongoing efforts to hold public officials accountable for the mishandling of sensitive government materials. The decision could embolden others who have been accused of similar offenses to mount legal challenges, potentially making it more difficult for prosecutors to pursue such cases in the future.
Overall, Judge Cannon’s ruling represents a significant victory for Donald Trump and a major setback for the work of Special Counsel Jack Smith. The decision is sure to reverberate through the legal and political landscape, as the former president and his allies seek to capitalize on the ruling and the Justice Department grapples with the fallout.