Florida Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by former President Donald Trump, has dismissed the criminal case against him regarding the mishandling of classified documents, asserting that Special Counsel Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed. Cannon’s ruling emphasized that Smith’s appointment violated the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This case, previously a significant legal threat to Trump’s 2024 election campaign, involved 31 counts of “willful retention of national defense information,” each carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence.
Trump’s legal team successfully argued for the case’s dismissal based on Smith’s invalid appointment and its constitutional violations. Following the ruling, Trump, who recently survived an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally, expressed his relief on Truth Social, calling for the dismissal of all other investigations against him, referring to them as “witch hunts.”
Cannon’s decision followed Trump’s lawyers’ argument for a partial assessment of the Supreme Court’s ruling that grants former presidents broad immunity from prosecution. The dismissal of this case, which carried severe implications for Trump’s legal standing and election campaign, marks a significant legal victory for the former president.
The indictment in Florida, which accused Trump of retaining national defense information, was seen as one of the most serious legal challenges he faced. However, with Judge Cannon’s ruling, Trump has avoided what could have been a lengthy and damaging trial, reinforcing his stance against what he perceives as politically motivated legal actions.
