Image: Special Counsel Jack Smith

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon sided with President Trump in a Monday ruling barring the release of former special counsel Jack Smith’s report reviewing the Mar-a-Lago documents case.

Cannon wrote that the release of the report “would cause irreparable damage to former defendants” in the case, which, in addition to Trump, includes former co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira.

Cannon previously determined Smith was unlawfully appointed, a ruling widely criticized by legal experts but one she referred to repeatedly in determining the special counsel’s final report should not be released.

“There is the matter of manifest injustice to the former defendants that would result from disclosure of Volume II,” wrote Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, referring to the portion of Smith’s report dealing with Mar-a-Lago.

“Special Counsel Smith, acting without lawful authority, obtained an indictment in this action and initiated proceedings that resulted in a final order of dismissal of all charges. As a result, the former defendants in this case, like any other defendant in this situation, still enjoy the presumption of innocence held sacrosanct in our constitutional order.”

… Democrats and outside groups have continually sought the release of Smith’s report now that no charges are pending in the matter, but Cannon has rebuffed their efforts.

She blocked any intervention of American Oversight and the Knight First Amendment Institute, which has appealed her ruling in an effort to reignite their battle to secure the release of Smith’s report.

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