A federal judge has dismissed the case against former President Donald Trump regarding the possession of classified documents. The ruling comes after Trump’s legal team raised concerns about the legality of the special counsel’s appointment.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon agreed with Trump’s legal team, stating that the appointment of Jack Smith, the special counsel in charge of the prosecution, violated the Constitution’s Appointments Clause. The clause requires that high-ranking government officials, including special counsels, receive Senate approval and confirmation.
The judge’s decision is a significant legal and political victory for Trump, who has long argued that the case against him was politically motivated. The ruling comes at a crucial time, as Trump prepares to accept the Republican nomination for president at the Republican National Convention this week.
The Justice Department has announced that it will appeal the ruling, setting up a potentially lengthy legal battle. The dismissal of the case raises questions about the future of the investigation and the potential implications for Trump’s political career.
Trump’s legal team hailed the ruling as a vindication of their client’s innocence. “This decision is a clear victory for President Trump and a testament to the strength of our legal team,” said Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. “We have always maintained that this case was a politically motivated witch hunt, and today’s ruling confirms our suspicions.”
The case against Trump centered on allegations that he illegally retained classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The FBI raided Trump’s property in August 2022, seizing several boxes of documents and triggering a legal battle that has spanned nearly a year.
The dismissal of the case is a significant setback for the Justice Department, which has invested significant resources in the investigation. The ruling also raises questions about the future of special counsel investigations, which have become a controversial tool in high-profile cases.