Judge blocks release of report on Trump classified documents case

Politics
24 Feb 2026 • 10:01 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • A federal judge has permanently barred the release of a report by special counsel Jack Smith concerning his investigation into Donald Trump's alleged hoarding of classified documents.
  • U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, granted his request to keep the report under wraps.
  • Trump had argued that the report's release would "irreparably harm" him and his co-defendants, claiming it was "inherently biased."
  • Judge Cannon stated that the release of the report would present a "manifest injustice" to Trump and his two co-defendants.
  • She concluded that Special Counsel Smith had acted "without lawful authority" in obtaining an indictment that ultimately led to the dismissal of all charges in the classified documents case.

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