The judge in Donald Trump’s trial for withholding classified documents after he left the White House threw out the entire proceeding on Monday, 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 upholds a request from his lawyers and cancels the proceedings brought in Florida (southeast).
Trump then called for all charges against him to be dropped. “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 cancellation of ALL witch hunts,” the Republican presidential candidate 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.
Further details will follow.