Andrew Weissmann, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, appeared on MSNBC’s Ana Cabrera Reports Monday, discussing the implications of Judge Aileen Cannon’s decision to dismiss the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump. Weissmann believes the ruling presents an opportunity for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to intervene and potentially remove Cannon from the case.
Weissmann emphasized that Cannon’s decision is not a ruling on the merits of the case, but rather a procedural issue. He noted that the balance of the law favors the prosecution, but the 11th Circuit or Supreme Court can still remedy the situation. The former prosecutor also saw the dismissal as an opportunity for the 11th Circuit to remove Cannon if they deem her decision frivolous, given that it was rejected by three previous courts.
Weissmann praised Special Counsel Jack Smith for bringing the charges against Trump, saying he played it straight and brought the case where the facts were. The former prosecutor acknowledged that Smith now has many options, including potentially considering a different venue for the charges. Weissmann pointed out that the biggest downside of the delay was already a factor in the case, given Cannon’s involvement. However, he viewed the dismissal as an upside for Smith, offering new possibilities for proceeding with the case.
