Aileen Cannon

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Key Figures

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon extended a temporary injunction blocking public release of special counsel Jack Smith's Volume II report on Trump's Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, preventing disclosure ahead of an upcoming deadline. The Trump administration and the newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi both supported keeping the report sealed, with Bondi reversing the prior Justice Department position. The temporary block set the stage for Cannon's permanent sealing order two days later on February 23.

Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued an order blocking the public release of Volume 2 of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents. The ruling kept secret the findings of a multi-year investigation into Mar-a-Lago document storage. Smith had completed the report before the case was dismissed following Trump's election victory. Transparency advocates and press freedom groups argued the public had a right to see the full investigative record.

Special counsel Jack Smith filed motions on November 25, 2024, to dismiss all federal charges against President-elect Donald Trump — both the classified documents case and the January 6 election interference case — citing the longstanding Department of Justice policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Smith sought dismissal without prejudice, preserving the theoretical ability to refile charges after Trump leaves office. The classified documents case was dismissed before trial despite 37 counts and extensive evidence; co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira remained subject to prosecution. Smith released a final report on his investigation that Judge Aileen Cannon blocked from public release in the 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.

Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted Donald Trump on 37 federal felony counts for retaining classified national defense documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office and obstructing federal efforts to recover them. The charges included willful retention of national defense information and conspiracy to obstruct justice.