A judge in Florida has dismissed the criminal case relating to classified documents that were found at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

The former US president has said on his Truth Social platform that the dismissal should be “just the first step” and that it should be “followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts”.

In the case that was thrown out today, Trump had been accused of illegally holding onto classified documents.

It represents another major legal victory as the Republican seeks a return to the White House.

Follow live updates: Classified documents case thrown out

Florida-based US District Aileen Cannon, who was nominated by Trump, agreed with the former president’s defence lawyers that Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was leading the prosecution, was unlawfully appointed to his role and did not have the authority to bring the case.

The judge also ruled that Mr Smith’s office was improperly funded by the Justice Department.

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Mr Smith’s team vigorously contested the argument made by Trump’s defence team during hearings before Ms Cannon last month.

The special counsel’s team also told the judge that even if she ruled in the defence team’s favour, the proper outcome would not be to dismiss the entire case.

The case has been thrown out months after Trump became the first former US president to be criminally convicted.

A New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records to commit election fraud.

Trump was convicted after being at the centre of a scheme to cover up “hush money” payments to buy the silence of a porn star in the days before the 2016 election.

When revelations by Stormy Daniels of a sexual liaison with Trump threatened to upend his presidential campaign, he directed his lawyer to pay her $130,000 (£102,000) to keep her quiet.

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