Appeals court agrees to drop Trump's classified documents case

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday agreed to end President-elect Donald Trump’s classified documents case, granting special counsel Jack Smith's request to end his appeal.

Smith asked the court to pause his appeal earlier this month, after Trump won reelection, citing a Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Even if the appeal reversed Judge Aileen Cannon's dismissal of the case, there would not be time to try the case before Trump took office. 

The special counsel had been challenging Cannon's dismissal of the case, which ruled Smith was unlawfully appointed. The case accused Trump of improperly taking classified documents back to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in 2022. 

Federal prosecutors on Monday indicated that they would still pursue charges against Trump associates who were charged alongside the former president with attempting to obstruct the investigation, according to Reuters. Both aides pleaded not guilty.

Smith also asked for a dismissal Trump’s election interference case, which was granted by Judge Tanya Chutkan on Monday.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.