The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says it will release volume one of special counsel Jack Smith’s report on President-elect Donald Trump’s election interference case. However, the department said that it will withhold volume two of the report that focuses on Trump’s possession of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida from the public for now.
The filing by the DOJ on Wednesday, Jan. 8, was issued to a federal appeals court that is weighing a request from Trump’s lawyers to block the release of Smith’s report.
Two of Trump’s former co-defendants face charges in the classified documents case, and requested emergency motions to block the release of the final report this week.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who dismissed Trump’s classified case, issued a temporary halt on the report on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
The DOJ said on Wednesday that it will now release just the first of two volumes focusing on Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, while only allowing chairmen and ranking members of the U.S. House and Senate Judiciary Committees to privately review the classified documents report.
The Justice Department said that volume two will not be released as long as the classified documents case against Trump’s valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira is ongoing. Filings also stated that the “limited disclosure” will protect “the defendants’ interests” while informing U.S. Congress and “the public regarding this significant matter.”
The DOJ also requested, in its filing, for the appeals court to throw out Cannon’s order blocking the release of any portion of Smith’s report. Unless vacated, the temporary injunction remains in effect until three days after the appeals court announces its decision.
If the appeals court grants the DOJ’s request, volume one may be released any time after the ruling.
