Allies of former President Trump hailed a federal judge’s ruling to dismiss the classified documents case against Trump, a move that came just days after the former president survived an assassination attempt and on the first day of the GOP’s nominating convention.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, ruled Monday that special counsel Jack Smith’s appointment in a probe regarding the former president’s handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago was unconstitutional, dismissing the case. It’s one of two federal cases where Trump has faced felony charges.
Republicans cheered the news on social media.
“Future Supreme Court Justice Cannon,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a staunch Trump ally, wrote on the social platform X along with a photo of the judge.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), another Trump loyalist, asserted that Smith and the Justice Department had “been dealt a major blow” while claiming Democrats “are going to keep going after every single one of us who opposes their agenda.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), seen as one of the main three contenders to be Trump’s vice-presidential pick, celebrated the ruling on X, writing, “Dismissed!”
Cannon’s decision coincided with the first day of the Republican National Convention, where the GOP is set to formally choose Trump as its nominee for president.
Trump is attending the convention after narrowly escaping an assassination attempt Saturday while campaigning in Butler, Pa. Less than 10 minutes into his speech, a bullet grazed the former president’s head. He was rushed off stage by Secret Service agents. The suspected shooter and one attendee died during the incident, while two others were injured.
While the special counsel is expected to appeal Monday’s ruling from Cannon, the decision in the near term is viewed as a political win for Trump, adding wind to his sails less than four months from the election.
Trump still faces charges in two other cases — one federal case and one in Georgia — with both centered on his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Meanwhile, Democrats have been embroiled in turmoil weeks after President Biden offered a disastrous debate performance, underscoring concerns about his age and mental fitness as a number of Democratic lawmakers have called on him to drop out.