In a significant legal development, a Florida judge has dismissed the case against former President Donald Trump concerning his handling of classified documents. The dismissal centers on the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation into Trump’s possession of these materials at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Trump faced 37 felony counts from Smith’s probe, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and making false statements. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon granted Trump’s motion to dismiss the indictment, citing the unconstitutional appointment and funding of Special Counsel Smith. In her ruling, Cannon stated, “The Superseding Indictment is DISMISSED because Special Counsel Smith’s appointment violates the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution.”
The Appointments Clause mandates that “Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States be appointed by the President subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.” Smith, however, was not confirmed by the Senate, prompting the court to find his appointment unlawful.
Judge Cannon emphasized the critical role of Congress in appointing constitutional officers and authorizing expenditures, arguing that the Executive Branch had overstepped its bounds. She highlighted, “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.”
Following the ruling, Trump expressed his satisfaction during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, stating, “I am thrilled that a judge had the courage and wisdom to do this. This has big, big implications, not just for this case but for other cases.” Trump, speaking from Milwaukee at the Republican National Convention, added that this decision would positively impact the convention week.
Earlier in July, Trump requested a partial pause in the classified documents case, citing a U.S. Supreme Court decision that presidents have substantial immunity for official acts conducted while in office. His legal team argued for a halt in proceedings until the judge could apply the Supreme Court’s ruling to his case.
Despite the dismissal, Smith retains the option to appeal the ruling. Trump, however, views this as a precedent, urging for the dismissal of other legal actions against him, which he describes as “political attacks.”
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump called for unity and an end to the “weaponization of our justice system,” emphasizing the importance of moving forward and making America great again.
