A US appeals court has granted a dismissal for the final federal criminal charges against Donald Trump, including allegations of illegally retaining classified documents. Special Prosecutor Jack Smith cited immunity for sitting presidents as a key factor. This dismissal marks a significant chapter in Trump’s ongoing legal saga, with other state-level cases still pending.
Final Charges Against Trump Dismissed Following Political Win
Final Charges Against Trump Dismissed Following Political Win
The last federal criminal case against Donald Trump has been dismissed, signaling a potential end to his legal troubles as he prepares for a return to the White House.
Amidst a uniquely charged political landscape, a US appeals court has dismissed the last federal criminal case against Donald Trump, alleging the president-elect's illegal retention of classified documents. This decision followed a similar dismissal, issued just a day prior, regarding a case alleging Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The dismissal was initiated by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, who emphasized that the requests were based on the legal prohibition of prosecuting a sitting president rather than on the credibility of the cases themselves.
“A dismissal without prejudice,” as it was formally termed, allows for potential re-filing of charges once Trump concludes his second term. Smith clarified that the dismissals were not a reflection of the merits of their cases against Trump, who has consistently pleaded not guilty.
Following an unprecedented criminal landscape for former US presidents, Trump now seems to have navigated through the majority of his legal challenges. Earlier this year, he faced nearly 100 criminal charges tied to multiple federal cases, including one notably linked to a payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels. The Supreme Court's ruling this summer solidified that a former president cannot be prosecuted for "official acts" executed while in office, also coinciding with Trump’s victorious bid for the presidency this year.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that these federal charges were “empty and lawless” and echoed sentiments of political manipulation, calling it a "political hijacking." JD Vance, the Vice-President-elect, also weighed in, conveying that the prosecutions were politically motivated and that had Trump lost the election, his legal circumstances would have been drastically different.
The dismissal of these cases culminates a prolonged legal struggle. Smith had previously been compelled to amend the election-subversion charges against Trump due to the Supreme Court's resolution on presidential immunity. Allegations against Trump related to the storage of sensitive documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate were also dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that Smith had been improperly appointed. The special prosecutor continues to pursue charges against two of Trump’s staff members, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who have both entered not guilty pleas.
In a subsequent filing, Smith indicated plans to appeal parts of Cannon's ruling, concerned about the potential ramifications on the appointment of special prosecutors. John Irving, representing De Oliveira, criticized the ongoing prosecutions, remarking on the poor judgment reflected in the decision to pursue the case against his client.
As Trump’s return to the White House looms ever closer, his state-level legal matters remain unresolved. Sentencing for his previous conviction linked to the Stormy Daniels case is currently on indefinite hold, while a Georgia court grapples with the appeal concerning the involvement of Fulton County's District Attorney, Fani Willis. Legal experts have suggested that Trump’s win Marked path to freedom, as sitting presidents are conventionally shielded from criminal prosecution. With Jack Smith anticipating his departure before Trump's inauguration, the fate of Trump's myriad legal battles hangs in a delicate balance.
