A federal judge has halted the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on his criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump. US District Judge Aileen Cannon issued an order preventing Attorney General Merrick Garland, Smith, and Justice Department officials from publishing details of Smith’s prosecutions of Trump.
The order will remain in effect until the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit rules on the constitutionality of Smith’s appointment as special counsel. Smith had unsealed two indictments against Trump in 2023, one in southern Florida for hoarding classified documents and another in Washington, DC for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election.
Cannon had previously dismissed the case involving classified documents due to Smith’s improper appointment without congressional approval. However, two co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, remain on the docket.
The attorneys for Nauta and De Oliveira have filed an emergency appeal to the federal appeals court to prevent Smith from transmitting the report and Garland from releasing it. Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, called for Biden and Garland to stop the politicization of the justice system and unite the country under Trump’s leadership.
Cannon’s order aims to maintain the status quo, prevent irreparable harm, and allow for an orderly resolution of the situation. Copies of the order have been sent to Smith, Garland, US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, and the clerk for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The legal battle surrounding the release of Smith’s report continues, with implications for both Trump and the justice system. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
