The case involving classified documents linked to Donald Trump has been dismissed. Get the latest updates and implications of this legal development.
Former President Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents prosecution by the US Special Counsel Jack Smith has been dismissed due to his invalid secondment for the case.
Attorney General Merrick Garland designated Smith to inquire into the claims that Trump stored classified documents at his Florida residence subsequent to departing from the White House, in addition to investigating a purported plot aimed at annulling the 2020 election.
According to Judge Aileen Cannon, the statutes referenced for appointment do not grant the attorney general extensive power in appointing inferior officers or provide authorization for him to assign a federal officer with prosecutorial authority similar to that exercised by Special Counsel Smith.
Cannon stated that Smith’s attempts to sway the court through “strained statutory arguments, appeals to inconsistent history, or reliance on out-of-circuit authority” were unsuccessful.
After the Indictment in Florida was dismissed, Trump commented on Truth Social that it should be just one step towards dismissing all witch hunts. He called for an end to weaponizing the justice system and encouraged people to come together and make America great again.
In August 2022, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida was raided by the FBI, resulting in the seizure of multiple boxes holding confidential documents. Washington Post reports reveal that some among them pertained to US nuclear intelligence and Iran’s missile program alongside details on their Chinese espionage activities.
Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami, Florida for mishandling documents in September 2023. Despite the charges against him, Trump pleaded not guilty and contended that he had committed no wrongdoing as he held ultimate authority over declassification matters.
In May of this year, unsealed court documents revealed that the Department of Justice had given permission to use “lethal force if needed” during the operation.
The DOJ has described Biden as an “elderly man with poor memory”. To learn more, click the link.
In 2017, President Joe Biden was investigated for taking classified documents with him after leaving the White House. Despite not possessing the authority to do so as vice president under Barack Obama’s administration, Special Counsel Robert Hur decided against prosecution in February of this year. Hur stated that a Washington jury would likely find it difficult to convict Biden due to his age and perceived cognitive decline at the time – making him appear more like an “elderly man with a poor memory.”
In the previous month, it was confirmed by the US Supreme Court that presidents possess an unconditional exemption from prosecution in regards to official actions. Nonetheless, they still remain accountable for their unofficial behavior; however, courts are unable to make assumptions regarding intent when rendering such verdicts.
For the time being, Smith’s additional lawsuit against Trump in the federal court of Washington D.C. remains ongoing.
