Monday, Oct. 7, 2024
Was Donald Trump exonerated in the classified documents case?
No legal determination of guilt or innocence has been reached in the criminal charges filed against former President Donald Trump over classified documents he kept after leaving the White House.
Trump falsely claimed Oct. 1, 2024, in Milwaukee he had been “exonerated” in the case.
Trump was indicted in June 2023 by a federal grand jury on charges related to mishandling classified documents and obstructing justice. Among other things, he was accused of stowing documents on nuclear capabilities and refusing to return documents when asked.
In July 2024, Florida federal Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the dozens of felonies. She ruled that the special counsel who filed them was appointed by the U.S. Justice Department without proper congressional approval.
Cannon didn’t rule on the merits of the charges.
Prosecutors appealed arguing federal law and court precedent authorize the attorney general to appoint special counsels.
No trial date is scheduled.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- WAAY 31 News RAW VIDEO: Donald Trump speaks, takes questions in Milwaukee
- U.S. District Court Donald Trump indictment
- Associated Press Donald Trump stored, showed off and refused to return classified documents, indictment says
- CNN Judge Aileen Cannon dismisses classified documents case against Trump
- Associated Press Special counsel to appeal judge’s dismissal of classified documents case against Donald Trump
- Washington Post Trump’s classified documents case dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon
- PBS Newshour What’s next for Justice Department after Trump’s classified documents case dismissed
- NPR Trump's classified documents case heads to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
- Washington Post Judge indefinitely delays Trump’s classified documents trial in Florida
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