A federal judge in Florida has put a temporary stop to the public release of a report tied to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into former President Donald Trump. This decision, made by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, came after Trump’s lawyers, along with attorneys for two co-defendants, filed an urgent request to block the Justice Department from sharing the report.
The case, unfolding in the Southern District of Florida, involves confidential documents allegedly mishandled at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. In her order, Judge Cannon instructed the Department of Justice, including Attorney General Merrick Garland and Special Counsel Smith, to refrain from sharing any part of the report—whether final or in draft form—with anyone outside the department. This restriction will remain in place until three days after the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals resolves a related motion, unless the appellate court decides otherwise.
The judge explained that her decision was meant to keep things as they are while the higher court reviews the emergency motion. She emphasized the need to prevent any potential harm and ensure the process unfolds in an orderly manner. The defendants’ lawyers had argued that releasing or even working on the report could cause significant issues for their clients.
The legal teams for Trump and his co-defendants, Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, also asked Judge Cannon to prevent Jack Smith and his team from doing any further work on the report. They wanted him barred from editing, sharing, or even accessing the evidence used to prepare it. In their motion, they stressed the urgency of stopping any actions related to the document until the legal questions are resolved.
Judge Cannon made it clear that her ruling is not the final word on the matter. She said this is a temporary measure to maintain fairness while awaiting further instructions from the appeals court.
This case continues to draw attention as it involves sensitive issues, including the handling of classified documents, legal accountability, and high-stakes court battles. For now, all eyes are on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, where the next steps will be determined.