Judge permanently blocks release of special counsel Jack Smith's report on Trump classified documents case

By — Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press By — Eric Tucker, Associated Press Eric Tucker, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Judge permanently blocks release of special counsel Jack Smith's report on Trump classified documents case Politics Feb 23, 2026 10:20 AM EST WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Monday permanently barred the release of a report by special counsel Jack Smith on his investigation into President Donald Trump's hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. WATCH: Jack Smith defends criminal investigations into Trump during House hearing U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, granted a request from the Republican president to keep under wraps the report on a criminal investigation once seen as posing significant legal peril to Trump. Smith and his team produced a two-volume report on investigations into Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election after he lost to Joe Biden and his retention of classified documents at his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, after he left the White House following his first term. Both investigations produced indictments that were abandoned by Smith's team after Trump's November 2024 election win in light of longstanding Justice Department legal opinions that say sitting presidents cannot face federal prosecution. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Cannon, who in 2024 dismissed the case after concluding that Smith was unlawfully appointed, said the release of the report would present a "manifest injustice" to Trump and his two co-defendants. "Special Counsel Smith, acting without lawful authority, obtained an indictment in this action...