District Judge Aileen Cannon has temporarily halted the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report on investigations into President-elect Donald Trump, granting an emergency motion filed by Trump’s co-defendants. The order prevents the Justice Department from publishing the report until the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reviews the case.
The report, which includes findings from investigations into the handling of classified documents and alleged interference in the 2020 election, has been a focal point of controversy. Trump’s former co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, argued that releasing the report before their appeals are resolved would unfairly prejudice them. They cited a prior ruling by Cannon deeming Smith’s appointment as special counsel unconstitutional—a decision currently under appeal by the DOJ.
The report, expected to be finalized this week, was reviewed by Trump’s attorneys, who called it a “one-sided narrative.” They’ve also sought advance notice of its release to pursue additional legal actions.
The Justice Department planned to release the report as early as Friday, following Attorney General Merrick Garland’s review. Garland intends to share the report with Congress, with necessary redactions to avoid prejudicing ongoing cases. However, Cannon’s ruling complicates these plans.
Nauta and De Oliveira have argued that the report effectively serves as a public “verdict” against them, undermining their ability to defend themselves while a protective order limits what they can say about the case.
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