WASHINGTON, United States (Reuters) — In a significant legal development, an appeals court ruled on Tuesday to dismiss the federal case against Donald Trump concerning the mishandling of classified documents, at the request of Special Counsel Jack Smith. This decision effectively puts an end to one of the most high-profile legal challenges facing the former president, at least for now.
The ruling follows a request by Smith, who sought to drop the case in accordance with a longstanding Justice Department policy that precludes prosecuting a sitting president. Although a district court judge in Florida had already dismissed the charges earlier this year, Smith had appealed that decision, bringing the case to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The appeals court granted the dismissal without providing further commentary, bringing a temporary reprieve to Trump, 78, who had been accused of unlawfully removing sensitive documents from the White House after his term ended and obstructing efforts to retrieve them. However, the special counsel is not completely letting go of the matter, as the case against Trump’s two co-defendants, his valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira, is still ongoing.
This decision comes amidst ongoing legal turmoil for Trump, who has been facing multiple investigations. Smith’s office is also pursuing charges related to Trump’s efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election, a case that was briefly put on hold after Trump won the November 2024 election against Vice President Kamala Harris.
In addition to these federal cases, Trump is battling legal issues on the state level. In New York, Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts related to falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money payment. Sentencing has been delayed pending an appeal, with Trump’s legal team challenging the conviction based on a Supreme Court ruling granting broader immunity to former presidents. In Georgia, Trump faces racketeering charges for his alleged role in trying to overturn the 2020 election results in the state, though this case is also expected to be paused while Trump serves his term.
As Trump prepares for a second presidency, his legal battles show no signs of abating. The impact of these ongoing cases, both federal and state, will continue to shape the political and legal landscape in the months to come.
