A district judge has issued an order blocking the release of special counsel Jack Smith's final report on investigations into President-elect Donald Trump. The order prevents Smith and the Justice Department from releasing the report until the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals reviews an emergency motion by Trump's codefendants to block its release.
Trump's former co-defendants have requested the report's release be blocked, arguing that Smith lacks the authority to do so as his appointment was previously deemed unlawful by the judge. The report is expected to cover investigations related to mishandling of classified documents and 2020 election interference.
Trump's attorneys have reviewed a draft of the report and raised concerns about its one-sided narrative. They have requested advance notice of the report's release to take appropriate legal action.
Attorney General Merrick Garland plans to provide lawmakers with the report, with necessary redactions. The Justice Department is likely to redact portions related to the co-defendants to avoid prejudicing their trials.
The dispute comes just before Trump's inauguration, with his Justice Department set to handle the investigation. The defense teams argue that releasing the report would prejudice the defendants and violate criminal justice norms.
The special counsel's office has outlined a timeline for finalizing the report, with decisions about its release resting with the attorney general. The defense attorneys have expressed dissatisfaction with the level of redactions in the draft they reviewed.
This latest development is part of Trump's ongoing efforts to challenge the special counsel's institution. The defense teams fear the report's release could harm their clients' legal standing, especially if the criminal prosecution against them is revived.
