US judge permanently blocks release of report on Trump classified documents case
South China Morning Post
by ReutersFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A US judge has permanently blocked the Justice Department from releasing a prosecutor’s report in the criminal case involving former President Donald Trump and two associates, who were accused of unlawfully retaining classified documents after Trump’s first term in office. Florida-based Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that disclosing the report would cause significant harm to Trump and his colleagues, as it contains detailed allegations of criminal misconduct. The judge argued that making the report public would create a "manifest injustice," potentially prejudicing the individuals involved before their trial.
The case centers on classified materials found at Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, which were seized during an FBI search in August 2022 as part of an ongoing investigation. The Justice Department had sought to release the report, known as a "Criminal Investigative Report," but faced opposition from Trump’s legal team, who argued that its publication would violate their due process rights and expose sensitive information. Judge Cannon sided with Trump, emphasizing that the allegations in the report could lead to immediate public judgment against him and his associates, which could compromise their ability to receive a fair trial.
This decision has sparked significant debate over transparency and accountability in government. Critics argue that it sets a dangerous precedent by shielding potentially critical evidence from
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Originally published on South China Morning Post on 2/23/2026