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In a decisive ruling that effectively buries one of the most controversial prosecutions in modern American history, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon permanently blocked the release of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report on President Donald Trump’s classified documents case.

The decision ends a monthslong legal battle over whether the report — detailing evidence gathered against Trump for allegedly retaining classified materials at Mar-a-Lago — should be made public.

Judge Cannon ruled that releasing the report would cause “manifest injustice” to the president.

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“Manifest Injustice”

Cannon dismissed the classified documents case in July 2024 after ruling that Jack Smith had been unlawfully appointed. The Biden Justice Department initially appealed but dropped the appeal after Trump’s reelection in November 2024, citing longstanding DOJ policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.

In her Monday ruling, Cannon said releasing Smith’s second report volume would be fundamentally unfair because the case was dismissed and never adjudicated.

Trump and his co-defendants, she wrote, “still enjoy the presumption of innocence.”

Releasing a report built on allegations that were never tested in court would violate “basic fairness” and risk perpetuating what she described as a breach of the court’s dismissal order.

Cannon also cited protective orders, grand jury secrecy rules, and attorney-client privilege as additional barriers to disclosure.

Unless overturned by an appeals court, the report will remain sealed indefinitely.

Cannon Rebukes Smith’s Conduct

In unusually sharp language, Cannon accused Smith of attempting to “circumvent” her dismissal order by compiling the report for transmission to then-Attorney General Merrick Garland and Congress.

She described the effort as a “brazen stratagem,” signaling that the court would not endorse what she viewed as an improper workaround after charges were thrown out.

The ruling means the American public will not see the full details of the documents investigation — at least for now.

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Appeal Unlikely — But Watch This

Because the case involves Trump and his own Justice Department, neither side is expected to appeal the ruling.

However, third-party organizations including American Oversight and the Knight First Amendment Institute are attempting to intervene in court to force the report’s release. If an appeals court grants them standing, the issue could resurface.

For now, the report joins what the Trump administration has called the “dustbin of history.”

Political and Legal Fallout

The classified documents case was widely viewed as the most serious of the four criminal prosecutions Trump faced during his years out of office.

It alleged he retained sensitive national security materials and obstructed efforts to retrieve them.

Critics argue Cannon has repeatedly favored Trump in her rulings. Supporters say she restored constitutional guardrails and rejected an unlawfully appointed prosecutor.

Attorney General Pam Bondi previously determined the report was an internal deliberative document that should not be released outside the Justice Department — a position now reinforced by Cannon’s order.

The first volume of Smith’s report, dealing with the 2020 election case, was released prior to Trump’s inauguration. The second volume will not see daylight unless higher courts intervene.

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Strategic Implications

This ruling cements a major legal victory for President Trump and underscores how dramatically the legal landscape shifted following the 2024 election.

With appeals dropped and prosecutions halted, what once appeared to be existential legal threats have effectively dissolved.

The broader question remains: Should special counsel reports be released when no conviction was ever secured?

For now, Judge Cannon has answered decisively — no.

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