Recently, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the charges against Trump regarding the hoarding of classified documents in Florida. Her decision was based on the ruling that chief prosecutor Jack Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional.
Smith is appealing this ruling. Should he lose, the Justice Department might have to find an internal prosecutor to continue the case, aligning with Cannon’s decision.
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According to legal expert Germain, Trump could be in a tough spot if he loses the upcoming election, especially with the potential reversal of Cannon’s dismissal. If that happens, the Justice Department could step in to rectify the situation.
If Trump secures re-election, he has various strategies at his disposal to dismiss federal charges, which include appointing a sympathetic attorney general or even pardoning himself.
In Cannon’s court, Trump was facing 40 federal counts related to his handling of sensitive materials post his presidency, alongside allegations of obstructing efforts to retrieve these documents.
The Republican nominee has entered a not guilty plea, claiming these legal challenges are politically motivated.
In addition to the Florida case, Trump’s facing serious accusations in Washington, D.C., including conspiracy to defraud the U.S., obstruction charges related to the 2020 election, and breaches against civil rights.
He maintains his innocence and decries these proceedings as a political witch hunt.
In state courts, Trump is also tangled in legal issues. In New York, he was convicted for falsifying records tied to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. This payment was allegedly made to prevent her from discussing an affair with him.
Additionally, he’s up against allegations of election fraud in Georgia.
“The state cases will likely follow a similar trajectory, regardless of his election status,” Germain noted.
Moreover, the Justice Department has a guideline that discourages prosecuting sitting presidents, hinting that any state-level cases could be postponed until after his term ends.
Trump is set to be sentenced in the hush money case on November 26, but if he wins on November 5, that sentencing could be delayed until he leaves office.