In a recent development, Democratic representatives have urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to disclose a report concerning President-elect Donald Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents.
They have implored Garland to take all necessary measures to ensure the report's public release, even if it necessitates dismissing charges against other defendants implicated in the case.
According to Straight Arrow News, the representatives stated in a letter to Garland, "It is in the very nature of American democracy that the people have a right to know of the public actions of their public officials, and it is essential to the rule of law that Justice Department special counsel reports continue to be available and accessible to the public." The letter was penned by Reps. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and Dan Goldman, D-N.Y.
In 2023, Trump faced 40 felony charges, accused of deliberately and unlawfully retaining classified information at his Mar-a-Lago residence and attempting to conceal it. However, these charges were dismissed by the presiding judge, who ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith had been improperly appointed.
Two of Trump's staff members, valet Walt Nauta and property manager Carlos De Oliveira, were also implicated in the case, with their criminal proceedings still underway.
Before his resignation on January 10, Smith authored two reports: one on the classified documents case and another on the power transition following the 2020 presidential election. While the latter report has been made public, the former remains sealed due to the ongoing case against Nauta and De Oliveira.
The Democrats argue that this may be the only opportunity to publicize the report. They suggest that once Trump assumes office, he is likely to terminate the prosecutions against his employees and then direct the Department of Justice to permanently suppress the report.
Raskin and Goldman wrote, "While we understand your honorable and steadfast adherence to Mr. Nautas and Mr. De Oliveiras due process rights as criminal defendants, the practical effect of this position is that Volume 2 will almost certainly remain concealed for at least four more years if you do not release it before President-elect Trumps inauguration on January 20."
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