
(FeaturedNews.com) – On Monday, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the criminal charges against former President Donald Trump related to his alleged mishandling of classified information. The decision marks a significant legal victory for Trump, being the first complete dismissal among his four criminal cases. Judge Cannon’s decision was based on her conclusion that Special Counsel Jack Smith, responsible for the charges, was not lawfully appointed under federal law.
In her detailed 93-page decision, Judge Cannon emphasized the importance of the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the separation of powers by involving Congress in the appointment of certain federal officers. She argued that the Special Counsel’s role as configured encroached on this legislative prerogative, potentially threatening the foundational principle of structural liberty.
Judge Cannon, appointed by Trump, determined that the Attorney General does not have the statutory authority to appoint a federal officer like Special Counsel Smith, who wielded extensive prosecutorial powers. This ruling raises questions about the legitimacy of other special counsel appointments, although Cannon specified that her ruling was limited to this particular case.
The charges dismissed involved 40 counts against Trump, stemming from accusations of improperly handling classified documents and attempting to obstruct their retrieval post-presidency. The ruling came shortly after an attempt on Trump’s life, an event he referred to in a post on Truth Social, calling for the dismissal of what he termed “witch hunts” against him.
Additionally, Judge Cannon referenced opinions from Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative member of the Supreme Court, who had expressed similar concerns regarding the appointment of special counsels in past rulings.
While the ruling directly impacts the classified document case, including charges against Trump’s co-defendants—his valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira—it does not affect other ongoing cases, including those involving other special counsels appointed for different investigations.
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