Staff Reports
In a blow to the left-wing prosecutor Jack Smith, a federal judge has rejected his demand to keep certain evidence in his case against Donald Trump under seal. Judge Aileen Cannon, who clearly understands the importance of transparency in criminal proceedings, stated in her ruling that Smith had failed to overcome the “strong presumption of public access.” It seems that Smith’s claims about witness safety were nothing more than baseless speculation, as the judge found them to be “broad and unspecified.” It’s a good thing someone in the justice system has the common sense to see through Smith’s misleading tactics.
Even Trump’s lawyers couldn’t help but ridicule Smith’s feeble attempt to hide evidence. They pointed out the irony of Smith’s concern for witness safety when prosecutors themselves were responsible for leaking information that revealed government email addresses of those witnesses. Smith’s desperate attempts to cling to secrecy have been exposed for what they truly are – a political witch hunt aimed at undermining Trump’s reputation and his potential run in the 2024 presidential election.
Media organizations have also voiced their support for transparency, urging the judge to carefully scrutinize Smith’s proposed redactions. After all, the public has a right to know the truth, especially when it comes to high-profile cases involving former presidents. Judge Cannon agreed with this sentiment, declaring Smith’s attempts to redact unclassified information without her permission to be unacceptable. As she emphatically stated in her ruling, “There shall be no filing under seal of any unclassified material in this case unless the party seeking to make a filing under full or partial seal first has sought and obtained permission from the Court through a motion for leave to file under seal.” It’s refreshing to see a judge who won’t be swayed by Smith’s attempts to hide the facts.
This ruling undoubtedly deals a significant blow to Smith’s already faltering case against Trump. It’s no surprise that Trump has called Smith “deranged” and accused him of being nothing more than a partisan actor working on behalf of President Biden. Smith’s desperate efforts to prosecute Trump before the election have faced numerous roadblocks, and Judge Cannon’s ruling has only added to his woes. As Professor Anthony Alfieri from the University of Miami School of Law correctly pointed out, holding Smith accountable for his actions and ensuring a fair trial will naturally slow down the proceedings, much to the advantage of the defendants. It’s about time someone exposed Smith’s strategy of delay, which is clearly designed to hinder Trump’s political aspirations.
While Smith may have had a momentary victory in his federal election case in D.C., it’s clear that his attempts to bring Trump to trial are far from secure. The D.C. appeals court rejected Trump’s claim of presidential immunity, but Trump has the option to appeal to the Supreme Court. If Smith’s case reaches that level, he may find his efforts once again thwarted by the highest court in the land. It’s time for Smith to face the reality that his politically motivated crusade against Trump is nothing more than a futile and time-wasting endeavor. Hopefully, this setback will serve as a wake-up call for Smith and his supporters, reminding them that justice must prevail over partisan agendas.
