Release the Investigative Report on Trump's Handling of Classified Documents

As your constituent, I’m writing to urge you to take immediate action to force the release of the report prepared by Special Counsel Jack Smith regarding the Justice Department’s investigation of Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents as his first term ended. Three years ago this month, the Justice Department indicted Mr. Trump under the Espionage Act for concealing and refusing to return classified records after leaving the White House. Because Mr. Trump returned to office after winning the 2024 election, the Justice Department abandoned the case—yet the public still has not been allowed to see the underlying report of what investigators found. That lack of transparency is unacceptable. After the special counsel completed his work and submitted his report to the attorney general as required by departmental regulations, Judge Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida—herself a Trump appointee—issued an order barring the Justice Department from disseminating the report. Her order also prevents Mr. Smith from speaking about it publicly and even limits his ability to testify before Congress. Judge Cannon’s restrictions were initially justified with reference to the pending fair-trial rights of co-defendants. But even after the government later dropped charges against those co-defendants, Judge Cannon reaffirmed her suppression order, citing a new rationale that the special counsel had been appointed unconstitutionally. This suppression has gone beyond the Justice Department: it has also blocked civil-society and media efforts to obtain the report through the Freedom of Information Act. The Justice Department has indicated it will continue resisting release even if Judge Cannon’s order is lifted, reportedly characterizing the report as something to be buried. There is a legitimate argument for sparing a sitting president the immediate burden of criminal trial. But if the political process is meant to be the mechanism for accountability during office, then Congress and the public must be given the information needed to hold the president accountable. Your office should press for vacating Judge Cannon’s order and for the report’s release—through all available oversight channels and any legal or procedural steps Congress can take, including challenging suppression to ensure the report is not permanently withheld.