US judge permanently blocks release of report on Trump classified documents case

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by ReutersFebruary 23, 2026 at 06:47 PM

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A US judge, Aileen Cannon, permanently blocked the Justice Department from releasing a prosecutor's report on the criminal case against Donald Trump for allegedly retaining classified documents after his presidency. Cannon, a Trump appointee, cited "manifest injustice" as the reason, arguing the report details allegations of criminal wrongdoing in a case that never went to a jury. The case, pursued by Special Counsel Jack Smith, accused Trump of illegally storing national defense documents at Mar-a-Lago and obstructing government retrieval efforts. Cannon had previously dismissed the charges, questioning the legality of Smith's appointment. This order prevents the public disclosure of substantial information related to one of the criminal cases Trump faced.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States ×240% Joe Biden 50% Mar-a-Lago 60% Jack Smith ×270% United States Department of Justice ×280% Aileen Cannon ×390% Donald Trump ×5100%

Keywords

donald trump 90% classified documents 90% criminal case 80% prosecutor's report 80% aileen cannon 70% justice department 70% special counsel jack smith 60% obstruction of justice 60% mar-a-lago 50% national defence 50%