US Judge Aileen Cannon has blocked the release of a report that alleges that US President Donald Trump mishandled classified documents. The report was made by former special counsel Jack Smith, who had accused Trump of mishandling documents after his first presidential term from 2017 to 2021. Smith handed over the report to then-Attorney General Merrick Garland.
US Judge blocks release of Donald Trump’s documents
As per CNN, Judge Aileen Cannon has ruled that Jack Smith’s report accusing Donald Trump of mishandling classified documents will not be released.
The report further accused the US President of obstructing justice at Mar-a-Lago after his first term. The former special counsel made the report in two volumes, which he submitted to former AG Merrick Garland.
Additionally, the first volume contained allegations against Trump that suggested he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 elections. However, Trump started a legal battle on the first volume, which halted the release of the second part.
Condemning the report in her 15-page ruling, Cannon said, “Special Counsel Smith and his team went ahead for months, undeterred, preparing [the classified documents report] using discovery collected in connection with this proceeding and expending government funds in the process. To say this chronology represents, at a minimum, a concerning breach of the spirit of the Dismissal Order is an understatement, if not an outright violation of it.” Cannon said this in relation to the July 2024 ruling in which she identified the report by Smith to be unconstitutional and dismissed the case against the President.
Highlighting the risk of revealing information related to the attorney-client privilege, Cannon stated, “While it is true that former special counsels have released final reports at the conclusion of their work, it appears they have done so either after electing not to bring charges at all or after adjudications of guilt by plea or trial. The Court strains to find a situation in which a former special counsel has released a report after initiating criminal charges that did not result in a finding of guilt.”
