A federal judge has rejected a motion to dismiss the classified documents prosecution against Donald Trump, ruling against the defense’s argument that a decades-old law allowed the former president to retain sensitive records after leaving office.
Trump’s lawyers had invoked the Presidential Records Act of 1978, contending that it permitted him to keep certain documents upon leaving office. However, prosecutors on special counsel Jack Smith’s team countered that this law did not apply to a case involving the mishandling of classified information.
They asserted that the records Trump allegedly retained at his Mar-a-Lago estate were presidential records and should have been returned to the government when he left office.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon (Credits: Salon.com)
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon rejected Trump’s claims, allowing the case to proceed. She emphasized that the indictment against Trump did not reference the Presidential Records Act or rely on it to state an offense.
This ruling marks a modest victory for Smith’s team, which has been seeking to move the prosecution forward despite delays and legal disputes. While other motions to dismiss the indictment remain unresolved, Cannon defended her decision to solicit potential jury instructions, addressing concerns raised by both sides.
Donald J Trump (Credits: MedPage Today)
The case against Trump involves multiple felony counts related to the mishandling of classified documents, including allegations that he improperly shared sensitive information. While a trial date has not been set, both sides have indicated they could be ready for trial this summer.
Separately, Trump faces other legal challenges, including charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and a hush money criminal trial set for April 15 in New York.
