According to ABC, on the 16th local time, the US Federal Court of Appeals granted the request of Special Counsel Smith to suspend the appeal of the classified documents case against US President-elect Trump. The move is part of Smith's gradual end of the two cases against Trump, due to the long-standing policy of the Department of Justice prohibiting sitting presidents from facing criminal prosecution while in office. Since Trump won the 2024 US presidential election and will take office in January 2025, Smith said that at this time, he asked for a suspension of the appeal "to allow the government time to evaluate this unprecedented situation and determine the appropriate course consistent with Department of Justice policy."