In the ongoing classified documents case against former President Donald Trump, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump, has shown a tendency to support his defense claims, particularly concerning the documents taken to his Mar-a-Lago estate. This has raised concerns about potential jury bias and the integrity of the trial process. The case has also seen involvement from Trump's jailed ex-adviser Peter Navarro, who was ordered to turn over documents under the Presidential Records Act. Recent developments include the judge's refusal to set a trial schedule, which has effectively delayed the trial beyond the initially hoped-for July timeline. Special Counsel Jack Smith and Trump's defense have been ordered to submit proposed jury instructions, a move that has sparked significant debate, especially around instructions that could imply a dismissal of the case or heavily favor Trump's defense based on the Presidential Records Act. Smith has expressed strong opposition to these instructions, suggesting they could undermine the government's position and has hinted at the possibility of seeking mandamus against Judge Cannon should she proceed with these instructions.
Special counsel Jack Smith urged a federal judge to keep a presidential recordkeeping law out of instructions that would be provided to the jury in the classified documents case against fmr. Pres. Donald Trump, according to court documents. https://t.co/maPvWsg5UK
https://t.co/siTR4RC5aM Special counsel Jack Smith used a legal filing to express frustration with Judge Aileen Cannon’s handling of the case.
Special counsel sharply rebukes Cannon’s jury instruction order in Trump case https://t.co/kp7nW1THuk
NEW: Trump suggests to Judge Cannon -- and this is an indication of how far her jury instruction scenarios went -- that if she proceeds with her second scenario, she should just go ahead and dismiss the classified docs case https://t.co/VwQ0AqIbkf
JUST IN: An extraordinary filing from Jack Smith tonight that is almost incredulous at how legally incorrect Judge Cannon's jury instruction scenarios are re: Trump's claim that he designted reams of classified info as "personal" on the way out of the WH. https://t.co/lmmI1dvWDb https://t.co/grnmBsGwJC
Special Counsel says Judge Cannon's second jury instruction scenario would "amount to nothing more than a recitation of Trump’s PRA defense as presented in his motion to dismiss and would result in directing a verdict against the Government."
Things just got very real in the classified documents prosecution. DOJ calls out Judge Cannon's outlandish jury instructions as destructive to a genuine trial. Asks court to rule now to give government opportunity to appeal and seek mandamus. With strong precedents in hand.⬇️ https://t.co/OEk8FvDSBd
JUST IN: The special counsel in Donald Trump's classified documents case has filed his response to a judge's order that could have far-reaching implications in the case. https://t.co/F8eWIT0WJo
NEW: Special Counsel signals they could seek mandamus against Judge Cannon in Trump classified docs case if she proceeds with jury instructions based on the PRA: "Both scenarios rest on an unstated and fundamentally flawed legal premise" https://t.co/i4IdupAemu
NEW: Trump, special counsel file their responses to Judge Aileen Cannon's March 18 order requiring both parties to submit proposed jury instructions and verdict forms on counts 1-32. https://t.co/R79iSLQYi8
Attorneys for both sides are expected to submit proposed jury instructions in the #ClassifiedDocuments case. Judge Aileen Cannon ordered the parties to address competing scenarios under the Espionage Act and under the Presidential Records Act. https://t.co/eYHPnZuOzl
We're on watch for Jack Smith and Trump defense to file "proposed jury instructions" on counts 1-32 in the classified documents case. Keep on the look out for any filings in the minutes, hours to come. https://t.co/rkZRQmuS1D
New: Trump almost certainly won’t go to trial in July in the classified docs case — as the Special Counsel requested — with Judge Cannon declining to set a trial schedule a month after she was presented with potential options. @guardian https://t.co/gRgHO3IL3q
Looming decisions set to shape Trump classified documents case https://t.co/5gofdVk9wM https://t.co/5gofdVk9wM
Important filing coming today. Jack Smith responds to Judge Cannon‘s bizarre order to provide jury instructions assuming rank misstatements of the law. Will he play along; or will he call her out and perhaps try to set up an appeal to 11th circuit plus motion to recuse her?
Judge’s inaction in Trump classified documents case dashes July trial hopes https://t.co/3d76LZqXI4
Trump sees good news in classified documents case after judge’s recent order https://t.co/GKq5cuqUIc https://t.co/GKq5cuqUIc
Trump, Mar-a-Lago judge may be watching closely as jailed ex-adviser Peter Navarro ordered to turn over documents under Presidential Records Act https://t.co/v1h0FPu2D5
US District Judge Aileen Cannon, overseeing Donald Trump's classified documents case, signaled an openness to his defense claims. The dispute is another instance of Cannon lending credence to his arguments about the records taken to his Mar-a-Lago estate https://t.co/hyIpQRBb1M https://t.co/AYQlZsM572
in Trump stolen secrets case, Aileen Cannon, elevated to the bench by Trump, has signaled further to Trump and prosecutors she favors prejudicing jury toward Trump https://t.co/g1l0U5f713