Judge Cannon shredded for giving Trump 'indefinite trial delay' with new actions
Judge Aileen Cannon delivered Donald Trump an "indefinite trial delay" in his classified documents case, according to former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance.
On Monday, Vance broke down Cannon's decision to "temporarily" stay the requirement for Trump to produce his critical Classified Information Procedures Act filing.
"This case was set for trial on May 20, which obviously won't happen," she posted on Twitter/X. "It should have been ready to try by the end of last year. Extending the 5(a) deadlines indefinitely is the same thing as giving Trump an indefinite trial delay."
Trump and his legal defense team were expected to complete section 5, putting the onus on him to disclose to prosecutors in a notice which classified documents they want to rely on at trial.
The step is crucial given the need to ensure that national security secrets are protected and that there aren't any surprises.
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Special counsel Jack Smith's office had not opposed a short delay for Trump's deadline under the Classified Information Procedures Act, but Cannon instead granted an indefinite stay.
It is considered a key step because it protects against any surprise disclosure of national security secrets at trial.
Indeed, Cannon had originally set a May 20 date at the Fort Pierce, Florida federal court.
But now Cannon’s postponement of the filing deadline adds to more unknowns in the case which has yet to select a new date to begin trial.
The time-eating move falls into Trump's strategy of delaying not just this case but all of his criminal cases he is facing.