A Florida judge has dismissed the Justice Department’s case against Donald Trump, marking a significant victory for the former president shortly after a failed assassination attempt.
Judge Aileen Cannon granted Trump’s motion to dismiss the federal case, citing that the appointment of Special Prosecutor Jack Smith violated the Appointments Clause of the US Constitution.
Trump had pleaded not guilty to charges related to mishandling classified documents, including the willful retention of national defense information.
Numerous classified files were discovered at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, some even found in unconventional places like a shower and storage room, following his departure from the White House in 2021.
In her 93-page order, Judge Cannon stated, “The Court is convinced that Special Counsel Smith’s prosecution in this matter undermines two fundamental pillars of our constitutional framework—the role of Congress in appointing constitutional officers and the authority of Congress in appropriating expenditures by law.”
