A federal judge has dealt a significant blow to the Biden administration’s legal efforts against former President Donald Trump, dismissing a case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith over the handling of classified documents. Judge Aileen Cannon’s decision, issued on Monday morning, is a major victory for Trump and a rebuke of the administration’s tactics.
Cannon ruled that Smith’s appointment by Attorney General Merrick Garland violates the Appointments Clause of the US Constitution. She also found that Smith’s use of a permanent, indefinite appropriation contravenes the same clause. As a result, the classified documents case is now officially closed, unless an appeals court or the Supreme Court intervenes.
The judge’s reasoning is rooted in a previous Supreme Court opinion, penned by Justice Clarence Thomas, in Trump v. United States. Thomas’s concurring opinion raised questions about the legality of Smith’s appointment and funding. Cannon’s decision effectively brings an end to the prosecution of Trump for his handling of documents after leaving office, unless higher courts disagree.
