Judge Aileen Cannon ruled not to block Jack Smith\u2019s report on Trump\u2019s 2020 election efforts
\n Washington
\nJudge Aileen Cannon ruled Monday that she would not block the release of special counsel Jack Smith\u2019s report on his investigation into Donald Trump and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
\nHowever, she scheduled a court hearing later this week to address Attorney General Merrick Garland\u2019s plan to share with lawmakers the part of the report dealing with the classified documents probe. Cannon has temporarily halted the release of that portion to anyone outside the Justice Department.
\nTrump\u2019s legal team requested Cannon reconsider her decision, asking for more time to present arguments against the release of the election-related portion of the report.
\nCannon rejected this request, allowing the release of the January 6-related portion to proceed at midnight. This decision is the latest development in a legal battle over the disclosure of the special counsel\u2019s findings.
\nThe Justice Department typically releases final reports on special counsel investigations, including those involving sitting presidents. However, Trump and his allies have delayed the publication of Smith\u2019s report. The report on the 2020 election investigation is not expected to contain new revelations but has been subject to significant legal challenges.
\nCannon\u2019s ruling includes continuing to block the release of the report\u2019s section on classified documents. Garland had planned to allow lawmakers from both parties to privately review this part of the report, but Cannon cited the need for a full hearing and briefing before proceeding with this plan.
\nGarland has expressed intent to publicly release the portion of Smith\u2019s report related to the 2020 election investigation before Trump assumes office next week. The 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals had already rejected a previous request from Trump\u2019s team to block the report\u2019s publication.
\nThe investigation into election subversion alleges that Trump and others attempted to undermine the transfer of power following the 2020 election, culminating in the January 2021 Capitol riot. In the classified documents case, Trump faces charges for mishandling classified materials and obstructing the investigation into their whereabouts.
\nTrump\u2019s legal team argued that Cannon\u2019s earlier decision, which questioned the constitutionality of Smith\u2019s appointment as special counsel, should prevent the report\u2019s release.
\nThe case involving Trump\u2019s employees, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, is still pending and has raised concerns about the potential impact of releasing the report on their defense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Judge Aileen Cannon ruled not to block Jack Smith\u2019s report on Trump\u2019s 2020 election efforts Washington Judge Aileen Cannon ruled Monday that she would not block the release of special counsel Jack Smith\u2019s report on his investigation into Donald Trump and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. However, she scheduled a court hearing later this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":349444,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-455450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n