A Florida judge appointed by former President Donald Trump has dismissed the criminal case against him for mishandling top secret documents, a significant win for Trump as he faces multiple criminal cases in his bid to regain the White House from President Joe Biden.
The decision, delivered on the first day of the Republican National Convention, further boosts Trump’s momentum as he seeks the party’s official nomination for president.
Federal Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed, leading to the case being thrown out. Smith was tasked with investigating Trump’s actions after leaving office, including overturning the 2020 election results.
Cannon’s decision comes after a recent Supreme Court ruling granting former presidents broad immunity for their official actions, aiding Trump’s efforts to delay his trials until after the November election.
Trump called for the dismissal of all pending cases, stating on his Truth Social platform that the Florida indictment should be just the first step. Reaction to the ruling varied, with Republicans hailing it as a victory for the rule of law, while critics like Eric Holder called it absurd and criticized the judge’s competency.
The case in Florida involved 31 counts of mishandling national defense information and allegations of obstructing justice and making false statements.
Republicans argued the prosecution was unfair and selective, pointing to a similar case involving Biden that did not result in charges.
© 2024 AFP