Politics
Should Merrick Garland Release Jack Smith’s Report Before Trump Takes Office?

Should Merrick Garland Release Jack Smith’s Report Before Trump Takes Office?
Here’s The Scoop
In a move that has raised eyebrows and sparked debate, Special Counsel Jack Smith announced that Attorney General Merrick Garland intends to release part of Smith’s final report concerning President-elect Donald Trump’s 2020 election case. This revelation comes amid a flurry of legal maneuvers and political implications that could impact Trump’s upcoming presidency.
Smith’s prosecutors disclosed this plan in response to an emergency appeal by Trump’s co-defendants in the classified documents case, who sought to block the report’s release. The report, a two-volume document, addresses two separate criminal cases against Trump: the classified documents case in Florida and the case in Washington, D.C., related to the January 6 Capitol events and the 2020 election.
Despite Smith having to drop his cases against Trump following the president-elect’s victory, Trump’s co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, still face charges. Their legal teams argue that releasing the report could unfairly prejudice their pending cases. However, prosecutors counter that the first volume, which concerns the election case, has no relevance to Nauta and De Oliveira.
Attorney General Garland plans to share the second volume only with key members of the Senate and House Judiciary committees, keeping it out of the public eye for now. According to federal regulations, special counsels must compile a confidential report at the conclusion of their investigations, with the attorney general having the discretion to release it publicly.
In a surprising twist, Judge Aileen Cannon temporarily blocked Garland from releasing the entire report until the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rules on the matter. Legal experts have criticized her decision, arguing she lacks jurisdiction. Prosecutors are urging the 11th Circuit to swiftly overturn Cannon’s order, with former federal prosecutor Kristy Greenberg predicting a quick decision in favor of the Department of Justice.
Meanwhile, Trump’s defense team, led by deputy attorney general nominee Todd Blanche, is pushing back against the report’s release. They argue that publishing the report just days before Trump’s inauguration would unleash a “media storm of false and unfair criticism,” potentially disrupting the transition process. They also contend that the report, prepared by Smith—whom they argue was unlawfully appointed—should not be made public.
In a strongly worded letter to Garland, Trump’s attorneys slammed the potential release as a “lawless political stunt” aimed at undermining Trump and justifying the taxpayer money spent on what they see as Smith’s failed investigations. As the legal and political drama unfolds, all eyes are on the 11th Circuit’s next move and its implications for the incoming administration.
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Dave
January 15, 2025 at 8:02 am
By releasing the report, Smith and Garland, will just add judicial warfare knowns to to the public. Further increasing Americans distrust in the judiciary system
Jerry C.
January 15, 2025 at 7:28 pm
He spent years and millions of tax dollars to not find anything prosecutable. One the one hand, the people DID pay for it and should have access to it. On the other hand, releasing the report will just fuel conspiracists & haters and do the country no good. I say bury it in a deep hole, along with Smith’s & Garland’s careers…