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Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Special Counsel Jack Smith’s classified documents case against President Donald Trump, according to a ruling filed on Monday.
Cannon noted Smith’s unlawful appointment in the dismissal of the case.
“The Superseding Indictment is DISMISSED because Special Counsel Smith’s appointment violates the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution,” the U.S. district judge wrote.
The document also highlighted the two key challenges that led to the case’s dismissal.
“Upon careful study of the foundational challenges raised in the Motion, the Court is convinced that Special Counsel Smith’s prosecution of this action breaches two structural cornerstones of our constitutional scheme—the role of Congress in the appointment of constitutional officers, and the role of Congress in authorizing expenditures by law,” it stated.
Trump previously pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts in the probe related to classified documents allegedly found in his Mar-a-Lago home during an FBI raid.
He gave a brief statement following the announcement, stating he was “thrilled” over the ruling.
“I am thrilled that a judge had the courage and wisdom to do this. This has big, big implications not just for this case but for other cases,” Trump told Fox News just after the ruling.
“The special counsel worked with everybody to try to take me down. This is a big, big deal. It only makes the convention more positive — this will be an amazing week,” he said.
Earlier this month, Trump’s legal team requested a delay in the case after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that presidents have immunity for official acts during their time in office. The lawyers sought to pause the case until the judge could apply the new ruling to the case.
The news comes just ahead of the Republican National Convention, at which Trump is scheduled to receive the party’s official nomination as the Republican presidential nominee.
The ruling also released just two days after an assassination attempt against Trump during his political rally in Pennsylvania. The shooter, 20-year-old Bethel Park resident Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired a shot that grazed Trump’s ear.
One man, Corey Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, Pennsylvania, was killed during the assassination attempt.
Two other individuals were injured, including 57-year-old David Dutch of New Kensington and 74-year-old James Copenhaver of Moon Township. Both are in stable condition.
