A federal judge in Florida has blocked the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith's final report on investigations into President-elect Donald Trump, marking a significant legal development just weeks before Trump's inauguration. Judge Aileen Cannon issued the ruling on Tuesday, granting an emergency motion filed by Trump's co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who argued that the report's release could unfairly prejudice ongoing and potential legal proceedings.
The report, which reportedly consists of two volumes addressing the mishandling of classified documents and alleged 2020 election interference, was slated for submission to Attorney General Merrick Garland this week. Garland has indicated plans to release the report with redactions, potentially as early as Friday, but Cannon's order temporarily halts the process pending a review by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Nauta and De Oliveira, both former Trump aides, are facing obstruction-related charges and have pleaded not guilty. In their filing, they contended that the report creates a "one-sided narrative" and argued that Special Counsel Smith's appointment was unconstitutional-a position previously supported by Cannon in an earlier ruling. Trump himself was removed from the case following his re-election, but the Justice Department is appealing Cannon's decision to dismiss the charges against him.
In a brief statement accompanying her order, Cannon refrained from distinguishing between the two sections of the report, instead applying the defense's objections broadly to both volumes. Trump's legal team, which reviewed a draft of the report over the weekend, echoed concerns about its fairness, describing it as a document that "irreversibly and irredeemably" biases the public and the judicial process.
"The Final Report is meant to serve as a Government verdict against the Defendants contrary to all criminal justice norms and constitutional guideposts," Nauta and De Oliveira's lawyers argued in their motion. They also pointed out that they remain under a protective order that limits their ability to respond publicly to the allegations, further compounding the potential prejudice they face.
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump and incoming White House communications director, criticized the special counsel's efforts, calling the investigation a "political weaponization of the justice system." Cheung reiterated Trump's claims of innocence, labeling the report as part of a broader "witch hunt" aimed at undermining his presidency.
The Justice Department, however, pushed back against these assertions in filings late Monday. Smith's office emphasized that federal regulations give the attorney general the authority to determine the report's release. The department also highlighted that prior special counsel reports, such as those by Robert Mueller and John Durham, were made public with minimal legal challenges.
Garland plans to submit the report to Congress, adhering to Justice Department guidelines for redactions to protect ongoing cases. His office dismissed claims of prejudice, noting that the proceedings against Nauta and De Oliveira are in their early stages and are being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office in South Florida.
Legal analysts view Cannon's decision as emblematic of the broader tensions surrounding the special counsel's investigation. Critics argue that blocking the report risks undermining public trust in the justice system, while Trump's allies assert that the move is necessary to safeguard constitutional rights and prevent political bias.
