Trump's DOJ drops Mar-a-Lago classified documents charges against president's co-defendants

On Wednesday, Justice Department attorneys requested the dismissal of federal criminal charges against Donald Trump and his two co-defendants for improper handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, as CBS News reported.

“The United States of America moves to voluntarily dismiss its appeal with prejudice,” the motion from Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne states.

“The government has conferred with counsel for Appellees Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who do not object to the voluntary dismissal.”

President Trump's valet, Nauta, and Mar-a-Lago property manager, De Oliveira, were charged with conspiring to obstruct federal investigators investigating allegations that Trump unlawfully kept classified documents at his resort property after his first term.

The Charges

Indictments arose from investigations led by special counsel Jack Smith, who resigned this month after dismissing Trump's criminal charges due to DOJ policy against pursuing a sitting president.

The classified materials case against Trump was controversial, especially after U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dropped it against all defendants, citing special counsel Jack Smith's unconstitutional appointment.

Most legal experts expected the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the Trump-appointed judge's dismissal due to its poor legal rationale.

After Trump was re-elected and took over the DOJ, the lawsuit died.

More on The Smith Case Outcome

The publication of Jack Smith's final report on his investigations against Trump recently sparked uproar, which centered on the classified materials case as well.

Two volumes made up Smith's final report.

His first two dealings with Trump concerned his probe and prosecution for possible interference with the 2020 presidential election. The matter involving the classified documents was addressed in the second.

Earlier this month, Cannon ordered a temporary restraining order preventing then-Attorney General Merrick Garland from disclosing any report version.

Following her ultimate admission that she lacked the power to prevent the release of the election subversion volume of the report, Cannon adamantly refused to grant four members of Congress chambers-only access to see a redacted version of the second volume.