Trump's Criminal Case Over Classified Documents Dismissed By Florida Judge (UPDATED)

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with additional details.

A federal judge dismissed a criminal case Monday against former President Donald Trump that accused him of mishandling classified information, ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith‘s appointment was unconstitutional.

What Happened: U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case against Trump, which was one of four criminal cases against him, as reported by Bloomberg Law.

Cannon determined that Congress must appoint "constitutional officers" and also approve funding for such a prosecution, according to the New York Post.

"That role cannot be usurped by the executive branch or diffused elsewhere – whether in this case or in another case, whether in times of heightened national need or not," she added.

This decision comes at a crucial time as Trump gears up for his presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee following an assassination attempt over the weekend.

See Also: Marjorie Taylor Greene Slams Kamala Harris, Accusing Vice President Of Hiding ‘A Secret And Lie To America’

Cannon’s decision is likely to be contested by special counsel prosecutors at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. If the ruling is overturned, prosecutors may also request that the case be reassigned to a different judge, according to The Guardian.

Last year, Trump was indicted on charges of retaining national security documents at Mar-a-Lago and obstructing the government's efforts to retrieve them, including partially defying a grand jury subpoena that ordered him to return any classified documents to the Justice Department. Trump pleaded not guilty to these charges.

Why It Matters: The dismissal of the case against Trump comes shortly after an assassination attempt Saturday at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The FBI is treating the incident as a potential act of domestic terrorism and is investigating the motive of the suspected shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthews Crooks.

The dismissal of the case against Trump is expected to have significant implications as he continues his political journey.

Read Next:

• Anthony Scaramucci Details Democrats’ Best Chance To Retake Presidency

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo: Shutterstock.