Federal Judge Blocks Release of Special Counsel’s Report

A federal judge has decided to permanently prevent the release of the second volume of former special counsel Jack Smith’s report, which looked into President Donald Trump’s management of classified materials post-presidency. This represents a significant win for both Trump and his co-defendants.

The decision, rendered by U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon, stops the Justice Department from “publishing, distributing, communicating, or sharing any information or conclusions contained in Volume 2 or any draft thereof with anyone other than the Department of Justice.”

Previously, Cannon had ruled that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional, but that issue was dismissed after Trump’s re-election in 2024.

The ruling means that the Justice Department cannot “publish, distribute, communicate, or share any information or conclusions contained in Volume 2 or any draft thereof with anyone other than the Department of Justice.”

In 2022, former Attorney General Merrick Garland had tasked Smith with investigating alleged attempts by Trump and his associates to overturn the 2020 election results, as well as claims that Trump retained classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office in 2021.

Smith had brought accusations against Trump regarding both matters.

After Trump was re-elected, the charges were dropped, aligning with the Justice Department’s long-standing guideline against prosecuting sitting presidents on federal criminal charges. Subsequently, Smith resigned from his role.