DOJ Drops Appeal Against Trump's Co-Defendants

The U.S. Department of Justice has decided to halt its appeal in the classified documents case against Donald Trump's former co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, effectively eliminating any potential legal consequences for them. This decision follows the dismissal of the case by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith was unlawful. The appeal was originally aimed at reinstating charges related to obstructing an FBI investigation into classified documents Trump allegedly took after his presidency. The Justice Department's recent motion to dismiss the appeal with prejudice was unopposed by the defendants' counsel. This move comes after Smith's team had already stopped pursuing Trump in the case, following a DOJ policy against indicting sitting presidents after his November election. The DOJ's action ends a significant chapter in the investigation, although the report on the investigation is expected to remain confidential indefinitely.