In a significant ruling, US District Judge Aileen Cannon has decided that the special counsel’s final report on Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents will not be released to the public. This decision marks a major win for Trump in his efforts to keep the report’s findings hidden.
Special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified records and obstruction of justice at Mar-a-Lago after his first term will remain under seal, thanks to a ruling by Judge Aileen Cannon. This decision is a significant victory for Trump, who has been fighting to keep the report’s findings from being made public.
The report, which was submitted to then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in early 2025, was the culmination of an investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents. While the first part of the report, detailing Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, was released before Trump returned to the White House, the second part of the report has been the subject of a legal battle to keep it under seal.
Cannon’s ruling stated that it is not customary for a prosecutor to release a report after a case has been thrown out, especially when the defendants have maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings. She also chided Smith for writing the report in the first place, saying it violated her earlier decisions to end the special counsel’s investigation into the classified documents matter.
While this decision is a win for Trump, transparency groups have filed appeals to challenge the ruling and push for the release of the report. The outcome of these appeals is still pending.
The decision by Judge Cannon has significant implications for the public’s right to know and the ongoing debate about government transparency. As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the report’s findings will eventually be made public.
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