Staff ReportsIn a monumental twist that should surprise absolutely no one, a federal appeals court has decided to grant special counsel Jack Smith’s request to wave goodbye to his appeal against Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. It’s a glorious ending to yet another attempt to trap the former president in what many believe is a partisan witch hunt. On Tuesday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals so graciously allowed Mr. Smith’s request to dismiss his appeal without any strings attached, making it clear that the case is officially closed for now.
Smith had sought to overturn a previous decision by Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, who had the audacity to dismiss the charges against Trump. It seems the judge found that Smith might have jumped the gun in his role as special counsel, considering he wasn’t confirmed by the Senate and was still a mere private citizen when he took on this high-profile case. The case had lingered longer than winter in the Northern states because Smith just couldn’t accept the fact that his legal strategy was in shambles.
Federal appeals court dismisses Jack Smith’s documents case against Trumphttps://t.co/HDxKjFumAw pic.twitter.com/to8nPfFUl0
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 27, 2024
Adding to the drama, this dismissal happened right on the heels of Trump’s resounding victory in the 2024 election. Timing, as they say, is everything. It’s almost as if the legal universe has a strange way of righting the wrongs inflicted upon a president who has faced more scrutiny than anyone in recent history. Meanwhile, in an effort to regain some control over the narrative, Smith moved swiftly to dismiss his other election-related charges against Trump. He relied on an Office of Legal Counsel opinion that essentially states sitting presidents can’t be prosecuted. Call it a “get-out-of-jail-free” card that builds the case for Trump even further.
In an unbelievable about-face, just weeks prior to the election, Smith was all in, urging judges not to dismiss anything. But as with most things in the current political climate, flip-flopping is the name of the game. Even Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee, jumped on the dismissal train, causing Smith to face an embarrassing defeat in the D.C. election fraud case. It’s almost like he’s been playing a high-stakes game of legal poker, and he just lost his best hand.
And let’s not overlook the Supreme Court’s intervention that left Smith scrambling like a deer in headlights. Their ruling established that a sitting president enjoys immunity for “core official acts” but cannot escape the consequences of unofficial acts. What this means for Trump is simple: he can still breathe easy while the judicial system tries to navigate through the murky waters of what constitutes official versus unofficial conduct.
In the end, both the 11th Circuit’s dismissal and the overall whirlwind of legal challenges against Trump create a uniquely entertaining spectacle. With some charges lingering, such as those related to hush money payments and racketeering allegations in Georgia, it’s safe to say the drama is far from over. The real question is whether the legal circus will start up again when Trump assumes office once more in January 2029. One thing is clear: the narrative crafted around Trump’s legal struggles stands to only bolster his support among his base. After all, when a politician faces constant scrutiny, it’s often the electorate that rallies around him, much like a protective mother bear defending her cubs.
