Trump Moves to Block Release of Jack Smith’s Final Report — Judge Cannon Now Under Pressure
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is asking a federal judge to keep Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report under seal, a move that would prevent the public from seeing the full findings of the now-closed classified-documents investigation.
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In a new filing, Trump’s attorneys urged Judge Aileen Cannon to block the report’s release, arguing that making it public would “perpetuate unlawful investigations and proceedings” tied to what they claim was a politically motivated prosecution. The filing includes unusually sharp language aimed at Smith and the Justice Department, echoing Trump’s long-standing attacks on the probe.
Smith submitted a two-volume final report earlier this year. Volume I — covering the election-interference case — has already been released. But Volume II, which details the evidence and charging decisions surrounding Trump’s handling of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, remains sealed under Cannon’s earlier order.
The original decision to keep the report secret centered on concerns about two former Trump aides who still faced legal exposure. That justification has weakened as their cases near resolution, leading transparency advocates — and several members of Congress — to push for full disclosure.
Trump’s new request would extend that secrecy indefinitely, breaking with decades of practice in high-profile special counsel investigations. Reports from Kenneth Starr, Robert Mueller, and others were eventually made public, even amid political fallout.
Legal analysts say Cannon now faces a pivotal decision: whether to continue shielding the documents-case findings or allow public scrutiny of Smith’s full investigative record. Either ruling carries major implications for ongoing debates over transparency, prosecutorial power, and the unprecedented legal battles surrounding Trump.