Donald Trump’s criminal case on charges that he illegally retained classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club was dismissed on Monday after the presiding judge sided with the former president and ruled that the special counsel who brought the prosecution had been improperly appointed.
The stunning decision by Aileen Cannon, the US district judge appointed by Trump, found that the appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel violated the US constitution as he had not been named to his post by the president or confirmed by the Senate.
A man in a suit with a red baseball cap speaks with his hands outstretched Democrats react to dismissal of Trump classified documents case: ‘breathtakingly misguided’
Cannon effectively ruled that there was no statute that authorized a special counsel to bring charges in the Trump case, and previous court rulings – including by the US supreme court in the landmark Richard Nixon case – were not binding on her decision.
The 78-year-old also became the first US president to ever be criminally convicted after he was found guilty of falsifying business records to commit election fraud in a hush money trial in May.
After his classified documents case was thrown out today, Trump began by referencing the assassination attempt when he wrote: “As we move forward in Uniting our Nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the Lawless Indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts.
Source: BBC
In other news – Kgothatso Montjane praised for Wimbledon doubles win
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has congratulated Kgothatso Montjane for winning the 2024 Wimbledon doubles. Montjane and Japanese Yui Kamiji beat Dutch duo, Diede de Groot and Jiske Griffoen, in London yesterday.
Ramathuba says Montjane’s victory will inspire young women and girls. Read more
