'She was challenging him': Analyst lays out tough day for prosecutors in secret docs case
Donald Trump and his lawyers went up against special counsel Jack Smith's team in Florida on Monday, day two of three, where Judge Aileen Cannon will hear five motions.
Up until Friday, Cannon had been sitting on a number of motions, refusing to rule on them. Some legal analysts have argued that the tactic is part of an ongoing effort to slow the trial so that it doesn't happen until after the November election.
Speaking to MSNBC about what unfolded on Monday, host and legal analyst Katie Phang explained that the day wasn't a good one for Smith's team.
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"There was a tense moment between Judge Aileen Cannon and the special counsel where she dressed him down and said, 'I don't appreciate your tone,'" she began. "She was challenging him, as in David Harbach, on behalf of the special counsel's office, about whether or not things like redactions that have already been done in public filings, protecting the names of witnesses, including law enforcement, are sufficient."
Cannon asked how far back they need to go to examine whether there have been threats made on law enforcement. The special counsel's office said, "These statements are required to be prohibited by Trump, so they can prevent significant imminent and foreseeable danger to law enforcement agents that are participating in the investigation and prosecution of the case."
Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, claimed that the special counsel was attempting to infringe on Trump's political speech.
Phang explained, "There's no connection between the examples brought by the special counsel and Donald Trump. There's an ability for him as a political candidate to be able to make statements, and the exhibits that the government presented, Judge Cannon indicated she was agreeing with Todd Blanche."
She didn't think that it would ultimately rise to the level of modifying the bond, however.
Ultimately, however, Phang said she didn't think it would turn out well for Smith and his team. It might give Smith enough to take the case to the 11th Circuit again.
Last week, The New York Times reported that two judges told Cannon that she should consider handing off the Trump case to someone else. The first argued that she wasn't experienced enough. The second, the chief judge of the court, told Cannon it could look bad given how poorly she faired in her first decision in the case.
See Phang's comments below or at the link here.
'Didn't go well for the government': Legal analyst on day two of Trump documents hearings www.youtube.com