A federal judge has temporarily blocked Special Counsel Jack Smith from releasing his final report regarding his now-suspended investigations into President-elect Donald Trump.
The investigations center on alleged interference in the 2020 election and the retention of classified records.
Trump’s co-defendants, Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, filed an emergency motion to block the release of Smith’s report, citing concerns about potential harm.
In response, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, presiding in the Southern District of Florida, ruled in favor of the defendants. Her decision temporarily halts the release of the report to prevent “irreparable harm.”
In her ruling, Judge Cannon stated that Smith is “temporarily enjoined” from “releasing, sharing, or transmitting the Final Report or any drafts of such Report outside the Department of Justice.”
#BREAKING: Judge in Trump documents case temporarily blocks release of special counsel Jack Smith's report.
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The judge’s order will remain in effect until three days after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit announces a resolution on the matter.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022, had been investigating Trump over allegations of election interference during the 2020 election and improper handling of classified records.
Smith’s report was anticipated to summarize his findings and conclusions from these investigations, which have been suspended since Trump’s recent election victory.
Smith has faced scrutiny from Trump’s allies, who view the investigations as politically motivated.
This temporary injunction highlights the continuing legal battles surrounding Trump and his associates as he prepares to assume office as President. The Eleventh Circuit’s decision on the matter will be pivotal in determining whether the report can be released.
Update: 1/11/2025
federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the Justice Department can release a report detailing President-elect Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
However, the court upheld a judge’s order for a three-day delay, providing Trump the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
The report, authored by Special Counsel Jack Smith, has been at the center of intense legal and political scrutiny. It reportedly outlines Trump’s actions following his 2020 election loss, including efforts to challenge the results in key battleground states.
Path to the Supreme Court
The delay grants Trump a window to petition the Supreme Court to block the report’s release. Whether Trump’s legal team will pursue this course of action remains unclear.
A spokesperson for the president-elect declined to comment on the possibility of an appeal, instead focusing criticism on Special Counsel Smith in a statement.
Trump and his allies have frequently attacked Smith, alleging bias and accusing him of leading politically motivated investigations.
Smith, who was appointed to oversee investigations into Trump’s election-related actions and classified documents handling, has faced similar attacks from Trump in the past.
Supreme Court Ruling on New York Case
The appeals court decision coincided with another significant legal development for Trump. Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to permit sentencing in Trump’s New York hush money case to proceed as scheduled on Friday.
The Supreme Court’s narrow ruling, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joining the court’s three liberal justices, dealt a blow to Trump’s attempts to delay sentencing.