Here’s more on the news that a federal judge has allowed the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s report on Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case:
The justice department can publicly release its investigative report on the president-elect’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election, US district judge Aileen Cannon said on Monday.
But a temporary injunction barring the immediate release of the report remains in effect until Tuesday, Associated Press reports.
Cannon had earlier temporarily blocked the department from releasing the entire report on Smith’s investigations into Trump that led to two separate criminal cases.
It is unlikely that Cannon’s order will be the last word on the matter, and defense lawyers may seek to challenge it all the way up to the supreme court.
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The day so far
Former justice department special counsel Jack Smith’s report into Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election will be made public, after a judge lifted the hold she has placed on its release last week. However, Aileen Cannon maintained the pause she had put on the sharing of Smith’s report into Trump’s possession of classified documents. The special counsel had led both cases, only to drop the charges after Trump won re-election.
Over in Congress, senators are gearing up for back-to-back confirmation hearings for the president-elect’s cabinet picks, beginning tomorrow with Pete Hegseth, Trump’s controversial nominee to lead the Pentagon.
And at 2pm today, Joe Biden will defend his foreign policy in a speech from the state department – including his divisive decisions to pull the US out of Afghanistan and supply Israel with weapons.
Here’s what else has happened today so far:
Smith’s resignation from the justice department last week did not stop Trump from bashing him on social media.
Trump’s inaugural committee has released a lineup of events to welcome the incoming president, beginning with reception dinners for him and JD Vance on Saturday.
Confirmation hearings have not yet been scheduled for Robert F Kennedy Jr, Kash Patel or Tulsi Gabbard, three of Trump’s more eyebrow-raising picks for cabinet spots.
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