US judge dismisses criminal case against Donald Trump linked to classified documents

In a major victory for the Republican candidate and former US President Donald Trump, Florida-based U.S. Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday defected the controversial criminal classified document case against the latter, ruling that the special counsel who brought the case was unlawfully appointed.

The Florida-based federal judge, who was nominated by Trump, ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the prosecution, was unlawfully appointed to his role and hence did not hold the authority to bring the case to the fore in which the former President was accused of withholding sensitive national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago social club after leaving office. Therein, he was also accused of obstructing the government's efforts to retrieve the material.

Significantly, today's judgement comes days after, the US Supreme Court earlier this week ruled that former President Donald Trump had some immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken while he was serving in the White House, diminishing the chances for a trial before the November election. The historic 6-3 ruling recognised any form of presidential immunity from prosecution for the first time that would further impact the upcoming election.

Chief Justice John Roberts threw out a lower court's decision that had rejected Trump's claim of immunity from federal criminal charges involving his efforts to undo his 2020 election loss to incumbent President Joe Biden. The six conservative justices were in the majority, while its three liberal members dissented. The slow verdict resulting in an additional delay makes it unlikely for Trump to be tried before the high-stakes elections.