President-elect Donald Trump faced a double legal setback Thursday evening as the Supreme Court declined to delay his sentencing in the New York hush-money case and an appeals court rejected efforts to block the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s report.
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals denied an emergency motion filed by Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, Trump’s co-defendants in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. The motion sought to prevent the release of Smith’s much-anticipated report, but the court left Judge Aileen Cannon’s earlier injunction in place for only three more days.
This means Attorney General Merrick Garland cannot release the report until at least Sunday, according to Anna Bower, senior editor at Lawfare Media. While Trump has been battling his sentencing in New York, Nauta and De Oliveira have been fighting to shield details of the classified documents investigation. The appeals court ruling sets the stage for the report’s release, adding further scrutiny to Trump and his allies’ actions.
The news drew praise from political commentators and legal analysts. Former Tea Party Congressman Joe Walsh expressed his approval on X (formerly Twitter): “Good. Judge Cannon had no business blocking the report’s release. Now come on Merrick Garland—release the damn final report. Let the American people see everything Trump did to try to hang on to power.”
The Supreme Court’s decision earlier in the day to allow Trump’s sentencing to proceed marks a significant moment. Trump, who will return to the Oval Office as a convicted felon, continues to decry the legal proceedings against him as politically motivated. The Manhattan case revolves around allegations of hush-money payments during Trump’s first presidential campaign, leading to a conviction that has been described as historic and unprecedented.
These developments signal mounting legal challenges for Trump and his associates as he prepares to take office. While Trump remains defiant, framing the cases as part of a broader “witch hunt,” the court decisions reflect the judiciary’s commitment to moving forward with accountability measures.
As the countdown to Sunday’s potential release of the special counsel’s report begins, all eyes remain on the Justice Department and its next steps in this unfolding legal saga.