
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has come under criticism from Democratic State Attorney Dave Aronberg for granting a delay in the classified documents case against President Donald Trump. The postponement, which follows a request from Trump’s legal team citing a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, has most Democrats whining.
On Saturday, Judge Cannon agreed to extend certain deadlines, allowing prosecutors more time to respond to Trump’s request for a pause in the case. Aronberg accused Cannon of intentionally slowing the proceedings to benefit Trump. “Delay is her middle name. She will continue to slow walk this case or continue to err on the side of delay and indulge the former president with every request,” Aronberg said during an interview with MSNBC’s Alex Witt.
The Supreme Court ruling referenced by Trump’s lawyers included a concurring opinion from Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, which questioned the constitutionality of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s appointment. Trump’s legal team argued that Smith’s appointment was improper, as he was neither nominated by the president nor confirmed by the Senate.
Aronberg warned that if Judge Cannon dismisses the charges against Trump, the decision would likely be appealed to the 11th Circuit Court and could result in her removal from the case. “If Judge Cannon does try to dismiss charges against Donald Trump, she’ll be immediately appealed to the 11th Circuit, she would probably be reversed and could be eventually removed from the case,” he explained.
Trump’s legal team had already challenged the constitutionality of Smith’s appointment in June. Aronberg emphasized that Judge Cannon would need to be very careful before ruling against the special counsel to avoid contradicting other courts and facing appeals.
Critics argue that the delay provides Trump with undue leniency and postpones the case’s resolution. Aronberg acknowledged that the delay might impact the timeline but noted that the case was unlikely to proceed before the upcoming election regardless of the recent ruling.
As the legal battle unfolds, Judge Cannon’s decisions and their implications for Trump’s legal and political future continue to draw significant attention. The case’s progression remains closely watched, with both legal experts and the public keenly observing the developments.