(Miami) The judge in Donald Trump’s trial for withholding classified documents after he left the White House on Monday threw out the entire proceeding, ruling that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith was illegal.
In this decision, which represents a huge victory for the former president, Judge Aileen Cannon granted a request from his lawyers and cancelled the proceedings in Florida.
PHOTO ARCHIVES REUTERS
Judge Aileen Cannon
Donald Trump called for all legal proceedings against him to be dropped following the judge’s decision.
“As we move forward to unite our nation after the horrific events of Saturday, this dismissal of the illegal indictment in Florida should be the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL witch hunts,” he said on his Truth Social platform.
The Republican presidential candidate in November, who is to be formally sworn in at the party’s convention that begins Monday, was being sued along with two of his personal assistants over his handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago private residence in Florida.
He is accused of compromising national security by retaining the documents, including military plans and information on nuclear weapons, after his presidency ended, instead of handing them over to the National Archives as required by law.
Another law, on espionage, prohibits keeping state secrets in unauthorized and unsecured locations.
He is also accused of attempting to destroy evidence in the case. The most serious charges carry up to 10 years in prison.
Judge Cannon had already postponed indefinitely this trial, which was to begin on May 20.