A U.S. District Judge in Florida has dismissed the case against former President Trump regarding his handling of classified documents. The charges stemmed from special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump's possession of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago residence. Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and false statements.
In a ruling, Judge Aileen Cannon granted Trump's Motion to Dismiss the Indictment, citing that Special Counsel Smith's appointment violated the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution. Trump expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating that it has significant implications not only for his case but potentially for others as well.
The Appointments Clause specifies that certain officers must be appointed by the President with Senate approval. Smith, however, was never confirmed by the Senate, leading to the dismissal of the case based on constitutional grounds.
Judge Cannon emphasized the importance of Congress's role in appointing constitutional officers and authorizing expenditures by law. She highlighted that the Executive Branch should not usurp Congress's authority in such matters.
Trump had previously requested a pause in the case following a U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming substantial immunity for presidents regarding official acts during their tenure. His legal team sought to apply this immunity ruling to the ongoing proceedings.
Special Counsel Smith has the option to appeal the judge's ruling, which marks a significant development in the legal battle surrounding Trump's handling of classified documents.
