Justice Department Seeks Swift Release of Trump Investigation Report

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to move swiftly in reversing a judge’s order that blocked the agency from releasing any part of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigative report on former President Donald Trump. The request comes amid a legal battle over whether the report, which includes findings on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents, can be made public before Trump’s potential return to office.

The department is seeking to release one volume of the report, focusing on Trump’s actions to undermine the 2020 election results, while delaying the release of a second volume related to his retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. The latter remains under review due to ongoing criminal proceedings involving two of Trump’s co-defendants.

In a filing on Saturday, the Justice Department revealed that Smith resigned after submitting his report to Attorney General Merrick Garland. The department emphasized the urgency of releasing the election interference findings, citing concerns that the Trump administration could suppress the report if he assumes office.

The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently denied an emergency request by Trump’s legal team to block the report’s release. However, a temporary injunction by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, remains in place, preventing the report’s publication until three days after the appeals court resolves the matter.

Trump’s co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, have asked Cannon to extend the injunction, arguing that releasing the report to Congress could compromise privileged information in their ongoing criminal case. The Justice Department countered that Cannon’s order is “plainly erroneous” and undermines the attorney general’s authority to oversee the release of investigative reports.

Special counsel reports are typically made public, as seen with previous investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election and Biden’s handling of classified documents. The Justice Department’s push for transparency reflects its commitment to upholding accountability, even as Trump’s legal team seeks to delay the report’s release.