ORLANDO, Fla. – A federal judge has rejected former President Donald Trump’s attempt to have charges of mishandling classified documents dismissed based on his claim that a federal records law protected him from prosecution. U.S. District Court Judge Aileen M. Cannon denied Trump’s argument that the Presidential Records Act takes precedence over the Espionage Act when it comes to highly classified documents held in his private residence in Florida. The judge defended her own handling of the issue, which had been a point of contention for prosecutors.
This decision comes in response to a court filing by special counsel Jack Smith, who criticized Judge Cannon’s legal interpretation of the Presidential Records Act. Smith urged the judge to rule and expressed a desire to quickly appeal any decision that goes against his argument. The back-and-forth took place after Judge Cannon ordered both prosecutors and defense lawyers to submit proposed jury instructions. Surprisingly, these instructions seemed to largely align with Trump’s interpretation of the Presidential Records Act.
In a three-page order, Judge Cannon defended her instructions and pushed back against Smith’s challenge, calling his demand for an anticipatory finalization of jury instructions unprecedented and unjust. She clarified that her request for proposed jury instructions does not constitute a final definition on any essential element or defense in the case. Instead, she described it as an effort to better understand the parties’ contrasting positions in this complex case.
The trial’s outcome remains uncertain as the legal battle intensifies. The dispute centers around the interpretation of the Presidential Records Act and its implications for handling classified documents post-presidency. Both sides are expected to present their arguments and evidence during the trial, which could provide further insight into this issue of first impression.
This is a developing story and will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.