A federal judge has approved the release of the first volume of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report concerning the investigation into former President Trump's alleged election interference. Judge Aileen Cannon made the decision on Monday, while the second volume, pertaining to Trump's handling of classified documents, awaits a ruling on Friday. Smith's investigations were halted after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

The release was briefly delayed after co-defendants Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira sought to block it. Judge Cannon temporarily prohibited the dissemination of the report while reviewing their claims. However, she ultimately ruled against them, stating their argument lacked sufficient grounds for an injunction.

Former President Donald Trump speaking at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The release of a final report is standard practice for special counsels, outlining their investigative findings and explaining decisions regarding prosecution. Given Trump's status as president-elect and the DOJ's policy against indicting a sitting president, the decision on prosecution in this instance is moot. Trump has criticized Smith's report, referring to it as "fake."

Federal Judge Aileen Cannon. (U.S. Courts)

Special Prosecutor Jack Smith recently requested the dismissal of the charges against Trump related to alleged interference in the 2020 election certification. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Attorney General Merrick Garland has chosen to release the reports from other special counsels who concluded their investigations during his term, including those of John Durham (investigating the origins of the Trump-Russia probe) and Robert Hur (investigating President Biden's handling of classified documents).