Permanent Injunction on Release of Jack Smith's Report, Volume II
A federal judge has ruled to permanently block the public release of Volume II of former Special Counsel Jack Smith's report regarding former President Trump's handling of classified documents after his first term.
U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon issued an order mandating that the Department of Justice must not "publish, disseminate, transmit, or share with anyone outside the Department of Justice any information or conclusions contained in Volume II or its drafts."
Volume II focuses on former President Trump's retention of allegedly classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach after leaving office in 2021.
Jack Smith's Appointment Previously Ruled Unconstitutional
Previously, Judge Cannon had ruled that Jack Smith's appointment was unconstitutional. The case was subsequently suspended after former President Trump was re-elected in 2024.
Smith was appointed by former Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 to investigate two matters: alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Smith had prosecuted former President Trump in both cases.
Charges Dropped After Trump's Re-election
After former President Trump's re-election, the charges were dropped in accordance with a long-standing Department of Justice policy that restricts the prosecution of a sitting president in federal criminal cases. Smith resigned shortly thereafter.
The latest ruling marks a significant legal victory for former President Trump and the associated defendants.
