MILWAUKEE — Delegates at the Republican National Convention were quick to celebrate the dismissal of charges against former President Donald Trump related to his handling of classified documents, which were thrown out by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday.
As it was announced the case was being dismissed Monday morning, delegates gathered in their separate state delegation breakfasts cheered in response to the news and offered a standing ovation in honor of the former president. The dropped charges add to the growing sense of strength and unity among the GOP base heading into the convention, which was only intensified after the assassination attempt of Trump over the weekend.
Delegates praised the dropped charges, criticizing the prosecution as a pointed attack by the Biden administration.
“This baseless prosecution, a witch hunt, really, was yet another attempt by a politically motivated Department of Justice to interfere in the 2024 election,” said Vance Patrick, Michigan Oakland County chairman. “Such actions not only erode public trust in our institutions but also divert attention from the real issues facing our nation. It is imperative that we uphold the principles of justice and fairness, rather than weaponizing legal processes for partisan gains.”
Cannon dismissed the case after ruling that special counsel Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to lead the case. The dismissal was grounded in two primary constitutional violations: the appointments clause and the appropriations clause of the Constitution.
Delegates pointed to previous GOP arguments that Smith was wrongfully appointed, repeating accusations that the Biden administration has weaponized federal agencies against Trump as he runs for reelection.
“Well, it’s the right thing,” said Richard Porter, a delegate from Illinois. “The idea … that you can have someone appointed by the Justice Department as opposed to the president and approved by the Senate to bring a case against a U.S. citizen. I mean talk about the deep state. That’s not how it works.”
“The public knew that case was a sham. When the information came out that the FBI had staged part of the evidence it confirmed our fears. Justice sometimes grinds too slowly for us but the important thing is it has prevailed,” Richard Saccone, a delegate from Pennsylvania, told the Washington Examiner. “We are poised to continue the tremendous momentum needed to succeed in November.”
Other delegates argued the case should have been dropped earlier, citing President Joe Biden’s similar classified documents investigation that concluded with no charges against the president.
“In all honesty, it’s incredible that this case was even proceeding given the clear hypocrisy surrounding the Trump case versus the Biden case,” said Aaron Farris, a delegate from Minnesota. “I think it’s also important to note that the primary reason President Biden wasn’t prosecuted for his handling of classified documents was because special counsel Hur believed Biden would be portrayed as a feeble, confused, old man to a jury, which would result in his acquittal.”
Trump’s defense challenged the legality of Smith’s appointment and the funding of his office, leading to a complex legal battle over constitutional principles and statutory interpretation. The court ultimately sided with Trump, emphasizing that the appointments clause serves as a critical safeguard in maintaining the separation of powers and ensuring democratic accountability.
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Trump also praised the ruling, using the dismissal to call on judges to drop all charges against him in other criminal cases against him.
“The Democrat Justice Department coordinated ALL of these Political Attacks, which are an Election Interference conspiracy against Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, ME,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Let us come together to END all Weaponization of our Justice System, and Make America Great Again!”
Rachel Schilke and Kaelan Deese contributed to this report.