Developing: Judge Aileen Cannon Permanently Blocks Release of Jack Smith's Report on Trump Classified Documents Case
A federal judge in Florida on Monday permanently blocked the public release of former special counsel Jack Smith's final report on his investigation into President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon — who was appointed by Trump during his first term — marks the latest chapter in one of the most closely watched legal battles of the post-Trump era, raising fundamental questions about government transparency, judicial independence, and the balance between prosecutorial accountability and defendants' rights. Cannon's order bars Attorney General Pam Bondi or any future attorney general from releasing or sharing Volume II of Smith's report, which details the investigation into Trump's alleged retention of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, and his alleged efforts to obstruct the probe. Without the order, the report had been set to become public on Tuesday. The decision drew swift praise from Trump's legal team and sharp criticism from transparency advocates and First Amendment organizations.