Judge Denies Trump's Bid to Block Release of Election Interference Report

U.S. Judge Denies Trump's Request to Block Release of Election Interference Report

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday denied a request from former President Donald Trump to extend an injunction that would have prevented the Justice Department from releasing a portion of a report by former special counsel Jack Smith. This report details Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

With the injunction lifted, the Justice Department is now free to release the relevant section of the Smith report as early as midnight, barring any further legal action from Trump or his team. However, Judge Cannon did maintain a prohibition on releasing the portion of the report that deals with the classified document case. The Justice Department has indicated that it does not intend to release this section at this time.

The Justice Department has also filed a motion with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals requesting the immediate release of the portion of the report that focuses on the January 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The court has yet to rule on this motion.

Following Judge Cannon's ruling, Trump's lawyers filed a last-ditch effort to prevent the release of the entire Smith report. However, Attorney General Merrick Garland has stated that he will release the volume of the report that deals with Trump's 2020 efforts as soon as he is legally permitted to do so. The volume of the report that deals with Trump's handling of classified documents will not be released due to ongoing charges against two co-defendants.

The release of the Smith report is expected to occur just days before Trump takes the oath of office for his second term as President. Trump was previously indicted on four federal felony charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. However, the case was ultimately dropped after Trump won the 2024 election. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Judge Cannon has scheduled a hearing for Friday to determine whether the portion of the report dealing with classified documents can be shared with select members of Congress. Trump's attorneys have requested that the temporary block on the entire report remain in place until this hearing takes place. They also intend to participate in the hearing and argue for a permanent block on the release of the report.