MIAMI, July 15, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - A Florida judge appointed by Donald Trump 
has dismissed the criminal case against the former president on charges of 
mishandling top secret documents, saying the way that Special Counsel Jack 
Smith was appointed was improper.

The decision is a huge victory for Trump, who had been accused of endangering 
national security by holding onto top secret documents after leaving the 
White House.

Judge Aileen Cannon made her ruling after lawyers for the 78-year-old argued 
for a partial stay of proceedings to allow for an assessment of a Supreme 
Court ruling that a former president has broad immunity from prosecution. 

"Former President Trump's Motion to Dismiss Indictment Based on the Unlawful 
Appointment and Funding of Special Counsel Jack Smith is GRANTED," Aileen 
wrote in her order.

"The Superseding Indictment is DISMISSED because Special Counsel Smith's 
appointment violates the Appointments Clause of the United States 
Constitution."

It comes as Trump is set to be annointed as his party's champion at the 
Republican National Convention, days after surviving an assassination attempt 
at a rally in Pennsylvania.

In the Florida case, Trump was facing 31 counts of "willful retention of 
national defense information," each punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

He also faced charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and making false 
statements.

Trump allegedly kept classified documents -- which included records from the 
Pentagon and CIA -- unsecured at his Mar-a-Lago home and thwarted efforts to 
retrieve them.