Judge Cannon dismisses Trump classified documents case

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the federal classified documents indictment against Donald Trump, ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith had been unlawfully appointed under the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. Cannon held that Smith lacked authority to bring the prosecution because he was never confirmed by the Senate and no statute expressly authorized his appointment. No other federal court had accepted the Appointments Clause argument Smith's office had faced.