A report by Raw Story dated Tuesday, January 16, 2024, legal experts are expressing concerns about District Judge Aileen Cannon’s handling of the case involving classified documents against former President Donald Trump. They suggest that Cannon may be subtly undermining the case.
Dennis Aftergut, a former federal prosecutor, and Laurence Tribe, a distinguished legal professor, authored an article for Slate titled “Judge Aileen Cannon Is Quietly Sabotaging the Trump Classified Documents Case.” They argue that Trump appointed Cannon to the bench in 2020 shortly after losing the presidential election to Biden, and now she appears to be aligning herself with him in his legal battles.
Amid various legal challenges faced by Donald Trump, including criminal allegations of obstructing justice and retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Cannon is seen as providing increased support. Critics have pointed out instances where her rulings in the case seem to favor Trump’s legal team.
For example, she rejected special counsel Jack Smith’s request for Trump to rely on the “advice of counsel” defense as the May 20 trial approaches. Cannon asserted that it was “not amenable to proper consideration at this juncture, prior to at least partial resolution of pretrial motions” and further discovery.
Legal experts believe that Cannon’s actions suggest a pattern aimed at delaying Trump’s trial until it is too late to empanel a jury and conclude the case before the election. Aftergut and Tribe argue that such manipulation of the law for the benefit of those who appointed judges is disrespectful to the rule of law.
Former Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissmann has also raised concerns about Judge Aileen Cannon’s perceived bias in the case, urging Jack Smith to seek her removal based on her actions.
In response to Cannon’s decisions, some legal experts posit that Special Counsel Jack Smith may consider turning to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to attempt a reversal. With the May date looming, time is running out not only for the trial but also for Trump’s political momentum as a prominent leader in the GOP seeking to reclaim the White House from Biden.
