Donald Trump's allies cheered U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon's dismissal of the classified documents case against him, calling her a "Future Supreme Court Justice" on social media just days after the former president survived an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.
On Monday, Cannon found that special counsel Jack Smith's appointment to the investigation of the former president's potential mishandling of classified documents was unconstitutional and dismissed the case. The Florida judge was nominated to the federal bench in 2019 by Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2020.
Cannon's decision was hailed on social media, with staunch Trump ally Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., posting on X, "Future Supreme Court Justice Cannon," along with a photo of the judge.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., another stalwart Trump supporter, warned that although the Department of Justice (DOJ) faces a setback, the matter is far from settled.
"Jack Smith and the weaponized DOJ has been dealt a major blow," Greene posted on X. "But the Democrats won't stop. They are going to keep going after every single one of us who opposes their agenda. We have to keep pushing forward."
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., succinctly summed up the development in a post on X, writing: "Dismissed!"
Cannon's ruling came on the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where the GOP is expected to formally nominate Trump for president.
Trump's attendance at the convention was far from certain after he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Saturday afternoon while campaigning in Butler, Pennsylvania. A bullet grazed the former president's ear less than 10 minutes into his speech, and he was rushed offstage by Secret Service agents after fist-pumping the crowd.
The suspected shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed during the incident by the counterassault team. Former fire chief Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed shielding his family during the attempt on Trump's life; and David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, who were initially listed in critical condition, were listed as stable as of Sunday.
Though Smith is expected to appeal the judge's decision, in the short term it is considered a political victory for Trump, buoying him as he heads into the campaign's final four-month stretch.
The former president still has a federal case in Washington, D.C., and a state case in Georgia to contend with, both hinging on his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.