In a landmark decision, former President Donald Trump succeeded in having the classified documents case against him dismissed on Monday after a federal judge ruled special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, an appointee of Trump, granted his motion to dismiss the indictment, finding Attorney General Merrick Garland did not correctly appoint Smith. The dismissal was grounded in two violations of constitutional clauses: the appointments clause and the appropriations clause.