Aileen Cannon pauses unredacted document deadline after Smith warns of 'clear error'

Judge Aileen Cannon Friday paused deadlines in a controversial order that special counsel Jack Smith had condemned as a “clear error” in former President Donald Trump’s classified document case, according to court records and reports.

Earlier this week, Cannon ordered Smith to deliver to her by Friday proposals for unredacted FBI interview witness reports that could appear on the public docket.

On Friday, the Florida federal judge stayed those deadlines and gave Trump’s attorneys until Feb. 23 to respond to Smith’s request Thursday that she reconsider, records and a Courthouse News report show.

"A copy of the discovery materials with limited redactions was expected to be filed Friday," the report states. "Cannon instead issued an order to stay that deadline as she reviews the special counsel’s motion."

On Thursday, Smith argued Cannon's two rulings would expose about two dozen witnesses in the Mar-a-Lago classified document case to risk.

“That discovery material, if publicly docketed in unredacted form as the Court has ordered, would disclose the identities of numerous potential witnesses,” Smith argued, “exposing them to significant and immediate risks of threats, intimidation, and harassment, as has already happened to witnesses, law enforcement agents, judicial officers, and Department of Justice employees whose identities have been disclosed in cases in which defendant Trump is involved.”

Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, faced criticism from legal experts over what they described as a “disturbing” ruling that showed signs of potential bias.

"Judges should not put their fingers on the scales of justice either for or against a defendant or any other party,” said former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance.

"Here, it’s impossible to avoid the conclusion that the scales are being tipped."