Trump-Appointed Judge Bars Release of Jack Smith’s Report On President's Handling Of Unclassified Docs

A U.S. District Judge on February 23 permanently blocked the release of former special counsel Jack Smith's reports on Donald Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents. Aileen Cannon on February 23 barred the Justice Department from releasing a portion of Smith's report on Trump.

The report contains detailed findings on how Trump allegedly mishandled several classified documents and obstructed a federal investigation. Trump allegedly stored classified documents at his home in Mar-a-Lago and obstructed government efforts to reclaim them. Authorities found several documents at his residence in Palm Beach, including in a shower and storage room. Trump allegedly took the documents when he left the White House at the end of his first term in 2021.

Cannon, an appointee of the U.S. president, granted a request from Trump and his two co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, to prohibit the release of the second volume of Smith's report. The second volume details Trump's alleged mishandling of classified government documents after his first presidential term ended.

Cannon said releasing the documents would cause "irreparable damage to the public" and "contravene the basic idea of fairness and justice."

The order, issued on February 23, prohibits Pam Bondi, the attorney general, or her successor from releasing or sharing a portion of Smith's final report. Bondi previously said she did not believe making the report public would be appropriate because of questions surrounding the legality of Smith's appointment as special counsel.

In July 2024, Cannon, who oversaw the prosecution of the case against Trump, ruled that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional and that he lacked legal authority to bring charges against Trump. The ruling invalidated Smith's findings and led to the dismissal of the case.

In her decision, Cannon wrote, "Special counsel Smith, acting without lawful authority, obtained an indictment in his actions and initiated proceedings that resulted in the final order of dismissal of all charges. For obvious reasons, the court need not take action in contravention of that protection absent a statutory or other lawful directive to do so."

Smith appealed the decision, but later sought dismissal of the case in 2024, when Trump won a second term in office. The Justice Department is barred from prosecuting a sitting president. Smith, who former Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed to investigate Trump, also appealed the ruling. In 2024, Smith submitted the first volume of his report to Garland, who made it public.

Trump's legal team requested Cannon block the release of Smith's report. The Justice Department supported the request, citing irregularities related to the findings and the appointment of the special counsel. According to CBS News report, one of Trump's lawyers said, "The publication of opinions and unproven accusations has no place in the American Judicial System."