Judge Cannon Blocks DOJ from Sharing Jack Smith's Report, Accuses Prosecutors of Denying Fair Trial

Jan 21, 2025, 04:02 PM

Federal Judge Aileen Cannon has barred the Department of Justice from sharing special counsel Jack Smith's report on former President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents with select members of Congress. In her ruling, issued one day after Trump was sworn in as President, Cannon stated there was "no valid justification" for releasing the report prior to the conclusion of criminal proceedings against Trump's co-defendants. She accused prosecutors of attempting to deny the co-defendants a fair trial. The decision prevents the DOJ from providing lawmakers with the second volume of Smith's report, which details his investigation into allegations that Trump unlawfully retained classified records at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Cannon noted that Congress had not requested the report and questioned the necessity of its release. Her order contrasts with the release of the Mueller report, which was made public while related criminal cases were still pending.