Judge Dismisses Trump’s Classified Documents Case

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Monday, July 15th, 2024

Florida, 15 July 2024: A Florida judge appointed by Donald Trump has dismissed the criminal case against the former president on charges of mishandling classified documents, ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s appointment was unlawful. This decision marks a significant victory for Trump, who had been accused of endangering national security after leaving the White House.
The ruling follows an assassination attempt at a campaign rally, where Trump was unharmed but splattered with blood. The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Pennsylvania.
Federal Judge Aileen Cannon ruled in favor of Trump’s motion to dismiss the indictment, arguing that Smith’s appointment and funding usurped congressional authority. In her 93-page opinion, Cannon stated, “Special Counsel Smith’s prosecution 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.”
Cannon’s ruling did not address the merits of the case but focused on procedural issues related to Smith’s appointment. This opens the door for prosecutors to appeal and potentially have the case re-heard by another judge. With the November election approaching, this ruling adds momentum to Trump’s campaign as he is poised to become the Republican presidential candidate.
Trump responded to the dismissal by calling for all court cases against him to be dropped, stating on his Truth Social platform, “This dismissal of the lawless indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of all the witch hunts.”
Trump faced 31 counts of “willful retention of national defense information,” each carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence, as well as charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and making false statements. Prosecutors alleged that he kept classified documents, including secret nuclear and defense records, unsecured at his Mar-a-Lago home and obstructed efforts to retrieve them.
Republicans argue that the prosecution was selective and unfair, noting a federal prosecutor’s decision not to pursue charges against President Joe Biden for keeping classified material at his home after his vice presidency ended in 2017.