July 15, 2024 – 5:13 PM
A Florida judge has dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit against Donald Trump over classified documents – BBC writesThe decision is a significant victory for Donald Trump, who was almost killed by an assassin two days ago.
The court did not find that Trump had committed any violation. Instead, Judge Ellen Cannon granted Trump’s request to dismiss the case, saying that the appointment of special prosecutor Jack Smith violated the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to several charges in the case, including charges of intentionally withholding national security information. The basis of the allegation is that dozens of classified documents were found in a bathroom and storage room at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago vacation home/palace in 2021, which Trump was not supposed to take home.
The former president was charged with 40 different crimes over classified documents, and now that process has been closed. However, the decision does not apply to the process that was initiated against Trump over his attempt to rig the 2020 election.
Special prosecutor Jack Smith can now appeal Judge Ellen Cannon’s decision and ask for a new judge to be appointed to the case. Last year, authorities also found classified documents at various properties belonging to current President Joe Biden.
