Florida judge dismisses the case involving classified documents related to Trump

All of the charges against former President Donald J. Trump were dismissed by the federal judge supervising his case involving confidential data on Monday. The judge found that Jack Smith, the special counsel who presented the indictment, had been appointed in violation of the Constitution.

The choice was made during the opening day of the Republican National Convention and in the wake of the former president's assassination attempt over the weekend.

Judge Aileen M. Cannon rendered a startling ruling on the opening day of the Republican National Convention, ruling that Mr. Smith's appointment as special counsel was unlawful because it was not supported by a specific federal statute and because the president had not nominated or confirmed him for the position.

"The bottom line is this: The Appointments Clause is a critical constitutional restriction stemming from the separation of powers, and it gives to Congress a considered role in determining the propriety of vesting appointment power for inferior officers," wrote Cannon, who was appointed to the bench by Trump. "The Special Counsel's position effectively usurps that important legislative authority, transferring it to a head of Department, and in the process threatening the structural liberty inherent in the separation of powers."

The former president was accused of hindering the Justice Department's investigation and handling secret documents after leaving office, giving rise to forty charges. The former president entered a not guilty plea after being accused of plotting to obstruct the federal investigation, along with his assistants Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira.

Chris Kise, his attorney, commended Cannon for his "courageous and correct" action and attacked Smith's prosecution.

"Judge Cannon today restored the rule of law and made the right call for our America. Jack Smith is not above the law and must be held accountable under the Constitution," he said in a statement. "From the outset, the attorney general and special counsel have ignored critical constitutional restrictions on the exercise of the prosecutorial power of the United States."

The former president had an incredible weekend culminating with the case's dismissal. On Saturday, he was the subject of an attempted assassination during a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania. Trump said that as he was speaking to the assembly of his fans, a bullet had slightly cut his ear. The Secret Service shot and killed the gunman, who the FBI identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.