A federal judge in Florida dismissed the classified documents lawsuit against former President Donald Trump on Monday.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon sided with defense lawyers who argued that the special counsel who filed the charges was illegally appointed.
The big picture: The decision brought an abrupt conclusion to the criminal case that included felony counts against Trump.
- Trump was accused of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing FBI efforts to recover them.
- Defense lawyers challenged the case on grounds that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed under the Constitution’s Appointments Clause and that his office was illegally funded.
- Judge Cannon agreed with the defense, citing the Constitution’s separation of powers between the Executive Branch and Congress in appointing government officials.
