Federal prosecutors announced on Monday their decision to drop the classified documents case in Florida against President-elect Donald Trump, citing the Justice Department’s longstanding policy that sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution.
The move was formalized in an appeals court filing in Florida, closely following a similar filing in Washington, D.C., where prosecutors sought to dismiss charges accusing Trump of attempting to overturn the 2020 election. These decisions effectively close two of the most significant criminal cases against Trump as he prepares to assume office.
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The Justice Department’s policy, established through decades of legal precedent, maintains that sitting presidents are immune from indictment or prosecution while in office, shielding Trump from further legal jeopardy related to these cases during his upcoming term.
The dismissal marks a dramatic conclusion to a case once considered one of the most serious legal challenges Trump faced. Just a year ago, the classified documents investigation—centered on allegations that Trump improperly retained top-secret materials—was viewed as a significant threat to his political future.
Special counsel Jack Smith, who had spearheaded both the classified documents and election interference cases, had recently signaled his intent to wind down the investigations. The Justice Department’s filings confirm this direction, ensuring Trump enters office without ongoing criminal scrutiny over these matters.
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The classified documents case had drawn intense public and legal scrutiny over claims that Trump’s actions jeopardized national security.
However, with the Justice Department’s policy effectively halting prosecutions of sitting presidents, those concerns will not lead to courtroom proceedings during Trump’s presidency.
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