Judge halts publication of special counsel report on Trump’s criminal cases

A federal judge overseeing a case involving classified documents related to President-elect Donald Trump has temporarily blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s report on his investigation. The injunction will last until the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules on a pending request to block the release over a separate matter involving Trump co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. Lawyers for Nauta and De Oliveira filed a motion asking Judge Aileen Cannon to block the report, citing a previous ruling that Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional. The judge issued the order to preserve the status quo until the higher court rules on the issue, prohibiting the release of the final report or any drafts outside the Department of Justice. Nauta and De Oliveira filed a separate petition to block the report, arguing it could impact their right to a fair trial. Meanwhile, Trump’s attorneys filed a motion asking the judge to intervene, arguing that as a former and soon-to-be president, Trump should be allowed to participate in the proceedings. Smith planned to send his report to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who has not yet determined how to handle the report volume pertaining to this case. The judge’s order will remain in effect until the 11th Circuit resolves the issue, with the DOJ committing not to release any report volume to the public before Friday.

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