On Thursday, April 11, 2024, Newsweek reported that former President Donald Trump expressed anger about some individuals “disrespecting” Judge Aileen Cannon who is overseeing his case involving classified documents.
According to the report, Trump wrote a post on his social media platform TruthSocial criticizing President Joe Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Special Counsel Jack Smith who was recently appointed to lead the investigation. Trump claimed they were working overtime to illegally intimidate and harass Judge Cannon by calling her terrible names and wrongfully threatening her with impeachment.
The post comes amid ongoing legal disputes between Smith and Judge Cannon over Trump’s indictment on charges related to the alleged mishandling of classified documents. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing, saying the documents he had were personal records.
Last month, Judge Cannon filed an order requesting potential jury instructions from both sides addressing whether the classified documents could be considered Trump’s personal items under the Presidential Records Act. However, Smith filed a strong rebuke, arguing the order rested on a flawed legal premise that the Act determines if a former president is authorized to possess highly classified materials in an unsecured location.
Some experts have suggested the frequent clashes could lead Smith to call for Judge Cannon’s recusal, which is an extraordinary and rare step. Former federal prosecutor Elie Honig, who now works as a legal analyst, said on CNN that while removal procedures exist, it is a precipitous move that could backfire if the request is denied. Honig noted prosecutors typically only pursue recusal in the most severe of circumstances given the potential awkwardness of having asked the judge to leave the case.
Source: Newsweek
