Judge Cannon Temporarily Blocks Release of Trump Special Counsel Report

Judge Aileen Cannon has temporarily blocked the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith's final report on his investigations into Donald Trump. This decision was made in response to an emergency request by defense lawyers representing Trump's co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who argued that releasing the report would unfairly prejudice them as their criminal case is still pending.

Judge Cannon's order specifically enjoins the Department of Justice, Special Counsel Smith, and their agents from releasing, sharing, or transmitting the final report or any drafts outside the Department of Justice. This temporary block will remain in effect until three days after the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals resolves the appellate motion, unless the appeals court directs otherwise.

The two-volume report is expected to detail charging decisions made in separate investigations by Smith into Trump's handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election leading up to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. The volume pertaining to the classified documents investigation was initially scheduled to be made public by Friday at the earliest.

This decision comes amid ongoing litigation in the classified documents case, which has been on appeal in the 11th Circuit against Nauta and De Oliveira. The government is appealing Cannon's dismissal of the case, and the appeal is still pending.

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