There’s a new update on Trump’s classified document case. Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case against Trump on the same day the Republican National Convention opened. According to her, the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith violated the Constitution without addressing the legality of Trump’s behavior.
Elsewhere, Trump noted that dismissal of the case should be the first step. He further called for the dismissal of other cases against him, including what we all know: business fraud and election subversion.
The Major Takeaways From Trump Classified Documents Case
First and most importantly, the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutional under the Appropriations Clause, which governs federal funding. Cannon found that Smith’s funding was stolen without statutory authorization, which makes it illegal.
This aspect of her decision relied heavily on an agreement by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in a separate ruling on Trump’s presidential immunity. In that ruling, Thomas supported the legal theory that special counsels may be unconstitutional.
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One thing about Judge Aileen Cannon is that her decisions usually adopt a longshot legal theory, which many other judges have rejected. Her ruling revealed that Smith had little oversight from the Department of Justice, although his team has previously acknowledged some degree of oversight by DOJ leadership.
Despite addressing these points, Cannon left some legal questions unresolved. One is whether Smith had a substantial amount of power without congressional oversight.
What Does the Public Think About the Classified Document Case?
Earlier this year, a poll revealed that 38% of Americans viewed the Trump classified document case against Trump as serious. In fact, this percentage doubts his suitability for office. Meanwhile, 25% noted that while the charges cast doubts on his qualifications, they were not disqualifying. Lastly, 37% saw the charges as irrelevant to his fitness for the presidency.
However, the proportion of respondents who saw the charges as disqualifying if true was higher for the documents case than the 43% who viewed charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election as disqualifying.
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Opinions were sharply divided along party lines. Among Democratic and Democratic-leaning adults, 69% called the documents charges disqualifying if true, 22% said they cast doubts on Trump’s fitness, and only 8% deemed them irrelevant.
Conversely, among GOP-aligned adults, just 7% considered the charges disqualifying if true, 25% said they cast doubts, and 67% regarded them as irrelevant.
Trump Classified Document Case and Public Reactions
In response to Judge Aileen Cannon’s ruling to dismiss the Trump classified document case, House Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement on Monday, declaring the decision “good news for America and for the rule of law.”
Johnson emphasized that House Republicans have consistently argued that Special Counsel Jack Smith misused his office’s authority in pursuing charges against Trump.
He also referenced his recent appeals for unity following an assassination attempt on Trump, stressing the need to end political witch hunts that undermine public trust in the justice system.
A strong Trump supporter, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik echoed similar sentiments, calling the dismissal a “historic victory for our Constitution and the rule of law.” She stated that the ruling was not just a win for Trump but also a reaffirmation of the nation’s foundational principles.
Stefanik urged national unity to end the weaponization of the justice system and to restore equal justice under the law.
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