According to recent reports, Special Counsel Jack Smith has spent an exorbitant amount of money in his investigation into Donald Trump, where documents reveal almost $24 million dollars was spent going after the former president. Smith was charged with investigating the presumptive GOP presidential nominee for his alleged role in the January 6 Capitol protests and mishandling of classified documents.
However, The American Tribune reported on Monday that Judge Ailleen Cannon had dismissed the case of the document against Donald Trump, ruling that Jack Smith had been improperly appointed to his position as the special counsel, determining it was illegal. The ruling is a significant win for Trump, who has long maintained his innocence in the case.
Court documents state, “Former President Trump’s Motion to Dismiss Indictment Based on the Unlawful Appointment and Funding of Special Counsel Jack Smith is GRANTED in accordance with this Order [ECF No. 326]. The Superseding Indictment is DISMISSED because Special Counsel Smith’s appointment violates the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution. U.S. Const., Art. II, § 2, cl. 2. Special Counsel Smith’s use of a permanent indefinite appropriation also violates the Appropriations Clause, U.S. Const., Art. I, § 9, cl. 7, but the Court need not address the proper remedy for that funding violation given the dismissal on Appointments Clause grounds. The effect of this Order is confined to this proceeding.”
The court records further specify the expenditure related to the special counsel’s investigation into Trump, suggesting that nearly $24 million has been allocated to the special counsel. “With respect to funding, all parties agree that Special Counsel Smith’s office has been funded since its inception using “a permanent indefinite appropriation . . . established within the Department of Justice to pay all necessary expenses of investigations and prosecutions by independent counsel appointed pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 591 et seq. [now expired] or other law.” 101 Stat. 1329. This is a limitless appropriation. As of September 2023, Special Counsel Smith’s Statement of Expenditures reflects $12,807,668 in direct expenses drawn from the Indefinite Appropriation, plus an additional $11,096,601 in “component” expenses “attributable to this investigation,” also drawn from the Indefinite Appropriation.”
Jason Robertson, co-founder of the American Tribune, commented about the expenses on X. “In Reading Judge Cannon’s dismissal of the Documents case, this is the most shocking part I have seen: They have spent just under $24 MILLION Dollars going after President Trump for the Documents $24 MILLION DOLLARS! Unreal “Counsel Smith’s Statement of Expenditures reflects $12,807,668 in direct expenses drawn from the Indefinite Appropriation, plus an additional $11,096,601 in “component” expenses “attributable to this investigation,” also drawn from the Indefinite Appropriation,” he wrote.
Judge Cannon concludes the nearly 90-page ruling, stating, “For the reasons set forth above, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows: 1. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Superseding Indictment Based on Unlawful Appointment and Funding of Special Counsel Jack Smith is GRANTED in accordance with this Order [ECF No. 326]. 2. The Superseding Indictment [ECF No. 85] is DISMISSED. 3. This Order is confined to this proceeding. The Court decides no other legal rights or claims. 4. This Order shall not affect or weaken any of the protections for classified information imposed in this case or any protective orders pertaining to classified information. 5. The Clerk is directed to CLOSE this case. Any scheduled hearings are CANCELLED. Any pending motions are DENIED AS MOOT, and any pending deadlines are TERMINATED. DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Fort Pierce, Florida, this 15th day of July 2024.”
However, commentators have pointed out that Judge Cannon’s ruling will likely be appealed and could very well be overturned. Regardless, former President Trump will be able to set the legal battle aside for the time being and focus on more pressing matters such as his attempted assassination and the upcoming Republican National Convention.
Watch Smith present the case in June of 2023:
Featured image credit: By United States Department of Justice – This file has been extracted from another file, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132849708
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