U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump on Monday. The judge ruled that special counsel Jack Smith did not have the authority to handle the prosecution. This decision arrives just hours before the Republican National Convention is set to begin in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to be nominated to challenge President Joe Biden in the upcoming election.

"The Framers gave Congress a pivotal role in the appointment of principal and inferior officers," Judge Cannon wrote in her 93-page order. "That role cannot be usurped by the Executive Branch or diffused elsewhere — whether in this case or in another case, whether in times of heightened national need or not."

The ruling is a major setback for special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to oversee the Justice Department’s investigations into Trump. These investigations included allegations that Trump illegally hoarded classified documents from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructed FBI efforts to retrieve them. Smith had obtained a grand jury indictment in June 2023, charging Trump with willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and related offenses.

A spokesman for Smith did not immediately return a request for comment from the Associated Press, but it is virtually guaranteed that Smith will appeal Judge Cannon’s ruling. The dismissal of the case could have wide-ranging implications for other ongoing investigations and legal proceedings involving Trump.

In a post on his social media website, Trump praised Judge Cannon’s decision, saying it "should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts" against him. Trump has frequently referred to the numerous criminal and civil prosecutions he faces as politically motivated attacks. These include his conviction in the Stormy Daniels "hush money" case, another prosecution led by Smith related to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, and a racketeering case in Georgia concerning efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in that state.

Trump also reiterated his unfounded claims that the "Democrat Justice Department coordinated ALL of these Political Attacks, which are an Election Interference conspiracy against Joe Biden's Political Opponent, ME."

Judge Cannon’s decision underscores the contentious and politically charged nature of the legal battles surrounding Trump. The judge’s ruling emphasizes the constitutional role of Congress in the appointment process of principal and inferior officers, suggesting that the Executive Branch, represented by the Attorney General, overstepped its authority in appointing Smith as special counsel.

The dismissal of the classified documents case is likely to embolden Trump and his supporters, who have long argued that the investigations against him are politically motivated. It also raises questions about the future of the other cases Trump is involved in and the potential repercussions for the Justice Department’s efforts to hold him accountable for his actions.

Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to appoint Jack Smith as special counsel was seen as an effort to ensure an impartial and independent investigation into the serious allegations against Trump. However, Judge Cannon’s ruling challenges the legitimacy of that appointment and could have significant implications for how special counsels are appointed and operate in the future.