The former US president was prosecuted for keeping classified documents in his Mar-a-Lago residence that should have remained at the White House. Special counsel Jack Smith will appeal the decision, the Justice Department announced.
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One less case for Donald Trump. The judge in charge of the former president’s trial for withholding classified documents after he left the White House canceled the entire procedure on Monday, July 15. The former head of state was prosecuted for having kept confidential documents in his Mar-a-Lago residence that should have remained at the White House.
Without ruling on the merits of the case, Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith in this case was illegal. She followed the advice of Donald Trump’s lawyers, who had highlighted that Jack Smith’s office was partly funded by the Justice Department and that his appointment contravened the law. “The Court is convinced that Special Counsel Smith’s prosecution of this case violates two pillars of our constitutional order, the role of Congress in appointing officials under the Constitution and the role of Congress in authorizing statutory spending.”the judge wrote.
Special Counsel Jack Smith will appeal the decision, the Justice Department said. The department “allowed the special prosecutor to appeal this decision,” Jack Smith’s spokesman Peter Carr said in a statement, saying it was contrary to those of all courts that have previously heard the matter.
“As we move forward to unite our nation after the horrific events of Saturday, this reversal of the illegal indictment in Florida should be the first step, followed quickly by the reversal of ALL witch hunts.”the Republican presidential candidate reacted on his Truth Social platform.
