A federal judge has temporarily halted Special Counsel Jack Smith's final report on the investigations involving President-elect Donald Trump.
According to Fox News, Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed his intention to release Volume One of Smith's report concerning allegations of Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, pending court approval.
The Department of Justice informed the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals about their plans to make the first volume public and share it with Congress. However, Volume Two, which deals with the classified documents case, will remain restricted to select congressional leadership due to ongoing criminal proceedings against two defendants.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued a temporary block on the report's release following an emergency motion filed by Trump co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. The ruling aims to prevent potential harm to the defendants' interests in their ongoing legal battles.
The injunction specifically prevents Smith from sharing or transmitting the final report outside the Department of Justice. This restriction will remain active until three days after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit announces its resolution.
In his letter to House Judiciary leadership, Garland emphasized his commitment to transparency while acknowledging legal constraints. Attorney General Garland wrote:
As I have made clear regarding every Special Counsel who has serve since I took office, I am committed to making as much of the Special Counsel's report public as possible, consistent with legal requirements and Department policy.
Jack Smith's tenure as Special Counsel is approaching its conclusion as he plans to step down before Trump's inauguration on January 20. His investigation encompassed two major cases: the alleged interference in the 2020 election certification and the handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
Recent developments have significantly altered the trajectory of these cases. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed Smith's charges against Trump in the election interference case, while Judge Cannon's summer ruling invalidated Smith's case regarding classified records, citing unlawful appointment.
The Justice Department's current approach mirrors previous special counsel report releases under Garland's leadership. The department previously published reports from John Durham's investigation into the Trump-Russia probe origins and Robert Hur's inquiry into President Biden's classified documents handling.
The DOJ's proposed solution attempts to balance public transparency with ongoing legal proceedings. Congressional access to Volume Two will be limited to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, with strict confidentiality requirements.
This arrangement reflects the department's effort to maintain congressional oversight while protecting the integrity of active criminal cases. The restriction particularly affects the classified documents case, where defendants Nauta and De Oliveira maintain their not guilty pleas.
The temporary injunction from Judge Cannon adds another layer of complexity to the release timeline. This legal pause provides time for proper consideration of the defendants' concerns while maintaining the possibility of eventual public disclosure.
Special Counsel Jack Smith's comprehensive investigation into President-elect Trump's actions surrounding the 2020 election and classified documents has reached a pivotal moment. The Department of Justice, under Merrick Garland's leadership, stands ready to release Volume One of the final report pending court approval while maintaining necessary restrictions on Volume Two due to ongoing legal proceedings. The outcome now rests with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, whose decision will determine when and how this significant document reaches public view.
