Judge Cannon clears way for release of classified docs report — but gives Trump an out
A federal judge took a step Monday toward the public release of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on President Donald Trump’s handling of classified material he stashed at Mar-a-Lago in 2021.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon blocked for nearly a year the release of Smith’s classified documents report but agreed Monday to lift her order on Feb. 24.
However, Cannon also invited a possible legal challenge by Trump or his former alleged co-conspirators, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, that could further delay the report’s release. The Trump-appointed judge emphasized that her timeline for release of the report could give way to legal claims that Smith’s report shouldn’t be released at all.
Cannon tossed the case against Trump after she ruled Smith was unconstitutionally appointed as special counsel. The Justice Department appealed her ruling, but that challenge was pending when Trump recaptured the presidency. Prosecutors ultimately dropped the appeal and the cases against Trump, Nauta and De Oliveira.
Shortly before Trump’s inauguration, Cannon rebuffed efforts by the Justice Department to release Smith’s final classified documents report. Trump argued earlier this month that Cannon’s conclusion that Smith was illegally appointed should result in the permanent sealing of Smith’s findings.
Smith testified to Congress last week about his work as special counsel but is barred from divulging the breadth of his work because of laws and rules governing grand jury secrecy.
