WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal judge on Monday permanently blocked the release of a report by special counsel Jack Smith concerning his investigation into President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
According to the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon granted Trump’s request to keep the report under seal. Cannon, who was nominated by Trump, previously dismissed the classified documents case in 2024, ruling that Smith had been unlawfully appointed.
Smith’s team produced a two-volume report covering investigations into Trump’s retention of classified materials at his Palm Beach estate and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Both cases resulted in indictments that were later abandoned following Trump’s November 2024 election victory, consistent with longstanding Justice Department policy that sitting presidents cannot face federal prosecution.
In her ruling, Cannon said releasing the report would create a “manifest injustice,” emphasizing that the charges were dismissed and that Trump and his co-defendants maintain the presumption of innocence. She noted that prior special counsels typically released reports either when no charges were filed or after convictions.
The decision effectively prevents public disclosure of the report tied to the classified documents investigation.
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