Former President Donald Trump claimed he had been “totally exonerated” in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, accusing Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden of orchestrating the charges to interfere with the 2024 election. as reported by ABC News.
According to a video on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, Trump’s assertion was delivered with his characteristic disregard for factual accuracy, as he repeatedly mispronounced Harris’s name and falsely painted a picture of political persecution.
However, Michael Popok, a legal commentator on the Legal AF podcast, quickly dismantled Trump’s narrative, highlighting the critical legal facts surrounding the case. Popok emphasized that Trump’s claim of exoneration is not only misleading but also factually incorrect.
The Mar-a-Lago case revolves around Trump’s handling of classified defense information after leaving office.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Special Counsel Jack Smith have been investigating whether Trump unlawfully retained and mishandled these documents. Contrary to Trump’s claims, the case is ongoing, and no legal body has cleared him of the charges.
Trump’s assertion of exoneration stems from a procedural ruling by Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump himself.
Judge Cannon made a controversial decision to temporarily halt parts of the DOJ’s investigation, questioning the validity of the special prosecutor’s appointment.
This ruling, however, is far from a final determination on the case and does not amount to an exoneration.
Judge Cannon’s ruling focused on a technicality regarding the appointment of the special counsel. She questioned whether the prosecutor’s role was properly authorized under the Department of Justice’s regulations. told by Reuters.
However, this interpretation has been widely criticized by legal experts and is expected to be overturned on appeal.
Popok pointed out that no other judge in U.S. history, including those on the Supreme Court, has ruled against the validity of a special counsel’s appointment in this manner.
The DOJ’s guidelines, approved by Congress, clearly outline the process for appointing a special counsel, making Judge Cannon’s ruling an anomaly rather than a precedent.
Trump’s legal team, aware of Judge Cannon’s lack of experience, strategically filed the case in her court, hoping for a favorable ruling.
This maneuver, according to Popok, is not an exoneration but an attempt to exploit a judicial loophole. The ruling is likely to be reversed by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which could significantly alter the trajectory of the case.
The ultimate outcome of the Mar-a-Lago case will depend on the appeals process and potentially a public trial, where the DOJ will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump committed crimes related to the mishandling of classified documents. Until then, Trump’s claims of exoneration are premature and baseless.
