Legal Victory for Trump: Charges Dismissed Due to Unconstitutional Appointment

US District Judge Aileen Cannon sided with defense attorneys in a landmark decision that abruptly concluded a high-stakes legal case against former President Donald Trump. The charges, which accused Trump of illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and obstructing FBI efforts to retrieve them, were dismissed.

Supporters of Trump gathered outside Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, as the news broke. Defense lawyers successfully argued that special counsel Jack Smith had been illegally appointed under the US Constitution’s Appointments Clause, which governs the appointment of certain government positions. They also challenged the funding of Smith’s office by the Justice Department.

Judge Cannon’s ruling, detailed in a 93-page order, emphasized the crucial role of Congress in the appointment of government officers, stating, “The Framers gave Congress a pivotal role… That role cannot be usurped by the Executive Branch.” This led to the conclusion that the case should be dismissed due to the unconstitutional appointment of Smith.

Smith’s legal team had vehemently opposed the argument during previous hearings, contending that even if the appointment was deemed unconstitutional, dismissal of the case was not the appropriate remedy. However, Judge Cannon’s decision removed a significant legal threat to Trump on the eve of the Republican National Convention, where he was poised to be formally nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.