By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
In a landmark ruling on Monday, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Special Counsel Jack Smith’s classified documents case against former President Donald Trump, citing the unlawful appointment and funding of the special counsel as the basis for her decision.
The case, which was initially brought forth in June 2023, involved 37 federal counts against Trump for allegedly storing presidential records at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump faced 31 counts under the Espionage Act for willful retention of national defense information, along with six other process crimes related to his conversations with his lawyer. The indictment was further expanded in July 2023 with three additional charges, accusing Trump of attempting to delete security footage from Mar-a-Lago.
Judge Cannon’s ruling declared the entire case invalid, stating, “Upon careful study of the foundational challenges raised in the Motion, the Court is convinced that Special Counsel Smith’s prosecution of this action breaches two structural cornerstones of our constitutional scheme—the role of Congress in the appointment of constitutional officers, and the role of Congress in authorizing expenditures by law.”
President Trump reacted to the dismissal on Truth Social, emphasizing the need for unity and calling for an end to what he described as politically motivated investigations.
“As we move forward in Uniting our Nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the Lawless Indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts — The January 6th Hoax in Washington, D.C., the Manhattan D.A.’s Zombie Case, the New York A.G. Scam, Fake Claims about a woman I never met (a decades old photo in a line with her then husband does not count), and the Georgia “Perfect” Phone Call charges. The Democrat Justice Department coordinated ALL of these Political Attacks, which are an Election Interference conspiracy against Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, ME. Let us come together to END all Weaponization of our Justice System, and Make America Great Again!”
Earlier in the month, Judge Cannon had already granted Trump’s motion to pause some pre-trial deadlines in the classified documents case, following a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump has absolute immunity for his core constitutional powers. Trump’s legal team had argued that Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional, a stance supported by Justice Clarence Thomas’s concurring opinion that Smith was not Senate-confirmed, a point Judge Cannon ultimately agreed with.
During the proceedings, Judge Cannon questioned Jack Smith’s prosecutor, James Pearce, about the funding and oversight of the special counsel’s operation, highlighting the lack of financial reports since September 2023. Trump’s lawyer, Emil Bove, argued that Smith’s operation required Congressional interaction, which was “nonexistent.”
Judge Cannon’s ruling to dismiss the case centered on two main points: the appointment of Jack Smith by U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland without Senate confirmation and the allocation of unlimited funding without Congressional approval. This decision marks a significant victory for Trump, who continues to assert that the investigations against him are politically motivated.