Trump needs all the help he can get right now.
Florida Federal Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Donald Trump and known for her previous controversial ruling in favor of the former president in the classified documents case, is anticipated to preside over his initial criminal indictment. However, her nomination and previous decision have faced significant public scrutiny.
According to Politico, Judge Aileen Cannon has been assigned to oversee Trump’s case, while a magistrate will handle his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Miami on Tuesday. This development adds another layer of complexity to this significant legal battle. It is currently uncertain whether Judge Cannon will continue to preside over the entirety of the case.
According to two individuals with close ties to Trump, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, they did not challenge the expectation that Judge Cannon will have initial oversight of the case. However, the duration of her involvement in the proceedings remains uncertain.
On Thursday, Trump was formally indicted in relation to his handling of classified documents following his departure from the White House. The case revolves around allegations that he kept sensitive national security documents at his residence in Florida and subsequently engaged in actions to obstruct authorities’ efforts to recover them.
Although Trump received a potential advantage with Judge Cannon’s assignment, he experienced a setback on Friday as two members of his legal team, John Rowley and Jim Trusty, departed. The specific charges against the former president have not been made public at this time.
Judge Cannon has a prior involvement in the classified documents investigation. Last August, when the FBI seized classified documents from Mar-a-Lago, Trump made an unusual request for a court-appointed special master to examine the confiscated material. This request was assigned to Judge Cannon, who ruled in favor of Trump and appointed a special master. However, her decision was later overturned on appeal.
Judge Cannon faced public criticism from legal experts who accused her of being excessively deferential to Trump’s legal team and lacking experience in the matter. Trump’s former attorney general, Bill Barr, openly expressed his disapproval of her ruling, stating on Fox News that it was “wrong” and “deeply flawed in a number of ways.” The backlash against Cannon highlighted concerns about her impartiality and legal judgment in relation to Trump’s case.