Is the former US president now threatening problems in the documents affair? Special investigator Jack Smith wants to breathe new life into the halted criminal proceedings and motivated his request in an appeal letter.
The judge in charge, Aileen Cannon, halted the proceedings in mid-July. She justified this with doubts about the legal appointment of the special investigator. Smith appealed against this – and now justified his move in an appeal.
Smith: Judge contradicts case law
The judge’s decision “contradicts the widespread and longstanding practice of appointing special investigators,” Smith said. It also contradicts clear case law that the attorney general has the authority to appoint a special investigator. The appeals court should therefore overturn the judge’s ruling, Smith argued. Attorney General Merrick Garland had appointed the 55-year-old to lead the investigation into this and another case.
Secret documents were found in Trump’s mansion
Trump was indicted at the federal level last year in the Miami, Florida, documents scandal. He is accused of illegally storing highly sensitive information from his time as president (2017 to 2021).
In August 2022, FBI federal agents raided Trump’s Florida mansion and seized several sets of documents classified as top secret. Trump is also accused of conspiring to obstruct the investigation by allegedly attempting, with the help of associates, to suppress footage from surveillance cameras and remove boxes of documents.
Trial unlikely before elections
A successful appeal could lead to the case being reopened. But even if that were the case, it is considered virtually impossible for the trial to take place before the presidential election in November. Judge Cannon, who is in charge of the document process, was once appointed by Trump. Critics have accused her of delaying the process.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
