In a rare filing Sunday, Judge Aileen Cannon condemned special counsel Jack Smith’s dirty tricks in the Trump secret documents case.
Jack Smith has repeatedly warned that government witnesses face “significant, immediate” threats if their names are not removed.
The special prosecutor has worked to keep the names of government witnesses secret. He also opposed unsealing discovery material because a document confirmed the existence of another FBI investigation.
In a five-page order, Judge Cannon, a Trump appointee, said she was “disappointed” that Jack Smith requested modifications for “witness safety” when it was in his favor but ignored it at other times. these concerns.
“[The] The Court found it necessary to express concerns about the manner in which the Special Counsel handled certain sealed materials in this case. In two separate documents related to the seal, the special counsel stated unconditionally that he had no objection to the complete unsealing of previously sealed record entries related to allegations of prosecutorial misconduct,” Cannon wrote.
Judge Cannon said, “There is no basis in this interpretation for concluding that the Special Counsel was unable to defend the integrity of his office while maintaining the safety of witnesses and the concerns he has repeatedly expressed to the Court.” The Court is disappointed with these developments as it still maintains that the consequences are severe and the Court has tried to incorporate them into its multiple orders on sealing/redaction.
Judge Erin Cannon
Cannon “approved in part and denied in part” Jack Smith’s motion to amend Trump’s defense documents.
“Finally, to the extent that the Special Counsel asserts the need to continue to keep the subject material confidential under Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 6(e), the Court accepts this rationale, although it is concerned about the Special Counsel’s use of Rule 6(e). worry.
NEW: In an order issued Sunday related to Trump’s motion to release unsealed/unredacted documents in a classified documents case, Judge Cannon once again took aim at special counsel Jack Smith’s selective request to test witnesses, prosecutors The practice of keeping jury materials confidential. pic.twitter.com/0R8sJ586Na
— Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) May 19, 2024
Earlier this month, Judge Erin Cannon indefinitely postponed Jack Smith’s classified documents trial against Trump.
A judge canceled the May 20, 2024 trial date after Jack Smith admitted that the FBI messed with boxes containing “confidential” documents seized from Trump.
The Justice Department previously assured the court that the location of the originally discovered confidential documents had been preserved – and they lied!
It could take several months before Judge Cannon sets a new trial date.
