Judge Cannon’s latest Trump trial stalling tactic 'not credible': legal expert

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Judge Aileen Cannon doesn't have a leg to stand on as she battles the Department of Justice over proceeding with the federal case filed by special counsel Jack Smith against Donald Trump for obstruction of justice.

That is the opinion of law Professor Stephen Gillers of New York University who told Newsweek that the Trump-appointed jurist is making suspect rulings that may not rise to the point where Smith could successfully have her removed — but are baffling nonetheless.

This past week Cannon snapped at DOJ officials who filed a brief warning she is being manipulated by the former president's attorneys who appear to be seeking to delay the Mar-a-Lago stolen documents case until after the 2024 presidential election.

According to Gillers, Cannon has an open and shut case that shouldn't take near the time she insists will be needed to bring it to a conclusion.

"It is hard to understand what Cannon is thinking," he told Newsweek's Sean O'Driscoll before adding, "Is she worried about the [Washington] trial going on too long and hitting up against the present start date for her trial? If so, she should wait to see if that happens. She can then delay her start date later. Trials often take less time than the lawyers predict."

According to the legal expert, the obstruction case isn't nearly as "complex" as she appears to be making it out to be and her concerns are suspect and should be questioned.

"Does she believe that the case is too complicated to try as soon as May, even though the lawyers have had months to prepare and will have six more months before May? That's not credible," he explained while also noting that the Trump federal trial being overseen in Washington, D.C. by Judge Tanya Chutkan "is much more complicated than the documents trial," was filed at a later date and yet is proceeding swiftly.

You can read more here.