'Unjustifiably delayed': Expert snaps at Judge Aileen Cannon for dragging out Trump case

'Unjustifiably delayed': Expert snaps at Judge Aileen Cannon for dragging out Trump case
Photos: Creative commons and Jerry Lampen for AFP

Former FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann hit out at the handling of the classified documents case for Donald Trump Thursday, calling it "unjustifiably delayed."

Judge Aileen Cannon's slow-walking of the case — which is scheduled to start in May but has seen several delays — has been a complaint voiced by several legal analysts, who view it as a simple matter with plenty of case law to look to for guidance, former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance argued on MSNBC. She predicted "fireworks" if Cannon, deviates from other similar cases.

And Weissmann agreed.

READ MORE: How Democrats could push back against GOP ‘judge shopping’

"The case that I think is really unjustifiably delayed is this one," Weissmann complained. "This is a case that is really quite simple in terms of its facts, in terms of preparation. Judge Cannon could have held this very routine hearing she held with the government — it could have been held months ago. There's been zero reason put on the record as to why she delayed."

He confessed to being cynical by nature, but he said that he gave her the benefit of the doubt at the start of the trial. Now, his patience has been tested to the extreme.

"I don't see any reason that this is taking as long as it did," Weissmann explained. "This is a very routine process to have these, what are called Section 4 hearings between the government and the judge as to what evidence can be used," he said, referring to a pre-trial hearing to discuss what classified information can be used as evidence which has taken a long time to be heard.

"I've been in those myself. I think this is one where there are a lot of excuses being given to her to continue the delay of the case. As you know, at the beginning of March, she's going to hear the parties on whether she's going to keep the May trial date. I think it's pretty forgone that that date is going to slip."

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Legal analyst tried to give Judge Cannon the benefit of the doubt — now he's done www.youtube.com

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A Republican lawmaker was called out on Friday for her remarks about Canada's wildfires and smoke — comments critics said overlooked Canada's help fighting California's own fires, the Daily Beast was first to report.

Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) took to X Thursday to complain about poor air quality as more than 890 fires burned across the Canada and smoke hit the Midwest and Northeast.

“Michiganders shouldn’t have to breathe Canada’s negligence,” she wrote on X. “YEAR AFTER YEAR the smoke crosses the border while Canada does nothing. Stop exporting your smoke into our skies. Enough is enough!”

This comment stands in stark contrast to that made by the Canadian government in January 2025 as wildfires ravaged southern California.

"The Government of Canada and all Canadians express their deep sadness at the devastating wildfires currently impacting southern California," the statement read.

"Team Canada stands ready to reciprocate that support during this time of need.... We have left no stone unturned and are exploring all avenues to offer our support to the people of California."

Social media users were quick to make the MAGA congresswoman aware of this point.

"The most idiotic self centered comment," Dave Mac, a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, wrote on X. "When California was burning who was there ? CANADA "

His comment had nearly 4,000 likes on the platform as of Friday morning.

Other users echoed this comment and mentioned the hypocrisy.

User AJ Punk, a political commentator, struck a sarcastic tone when he wrote on X, "How dare Canada burn their country down and ruin America's summer!"

Progressive commentator David Ro wrote, "When Michigan and Ontario were hit with disastrous Tornados and storms that came From the U.S. mid West. Canada did not complain or threaten the U.S. Instead they sent hundreds of hydro crews to Michigan to get the lights back on. That’s what friends do."

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Journalist John Solomon, known for spreading misinformation, has been identified as the architect behind President Donald Trump's Thursday primetime address, reports show.

Will Sommer of The Bulwark reported the speech is expected to revive Trump's favorite 2020 election conspiracy theories, including claims that he won the election, China interfered, and Georgia's Democratic senators are illegitimate due to alleged voter fraud.

"For nearly a decade, Solomon has had a hand in the creation of nearly every major MAGA grievance narrative," Sommer began.

Solomon, who recently joined the Trump White House as a Special Government Employee, has a documented history of making false statements, explained Sommer. He played a central role in Trump's Ukraine scheme to discredit Former President Joe Biden and his unproven claims about Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton selling uranium to Russia.

Solomon is reportedly using his government position to declassify documents targeting Trump's perceived enemies, including former CIA director John Brennan.

"But Solomon’s decades-old reputation for letting down his audience is starting to reach conservatives, too. Popular conspiracy theory blog Conservative Treehouse has grown skeptical of Solomon’s promises, even adding a bolded warning label of sorts to a preview of Trump’s Thursday speech so readers wouldn’t get too excited," Sommer added.

Watch the video below.


Republican candidates may want to dial back bragging about being card-carrying members of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement, a new survey of American voters suggests.

A stunning CNBC survey released Friday revealed that economic turmoil has rendered the MAGA brand more politically poisonous then the label of socialism.

"Half of all voters say they are unlikely to support a democratic socialist candidate, with 32% saying they would support one," CNBC reported. "An endorsement by the president is somewhat worse, with 52% saying they would not support such a candidate. Worst of all are self-described MAGA candidates, which the survey found 57% of the public said they would be unlikely to support."

This could present a fundamental problem for Trump's movement heading into the midterms, experts said.

“More voters expect things to get worse by a 41/29% margin, leaving the electorate in a distinctly sour mood heading into the midterm election cycle,″ Micah Roberts, partner at Republican pollsters Public Opinion Strategies, told CNBC.

Despite favorable economic indicators—a booming stock market and declining inflation—the public remains deeply pessimistic about economic conditions, the survey found.

Consumer anxiety about everyday costs has reached pandemic-era levels, creating a disconnect between headline numbers and lived experience. Add to that the unpopularity of Trump's war which has trickled down to some of his congressional supporters.

The polling numbers reveal a Trump endorsement makes 52 percent of voters less likely to support a candidate, compared to just 29 percent who say it helps.

The comes close to how radioactive the MAGA label has become, with an alarming 57 percent of voters saying identifying as a self-described MAGA candidate would make them less likely to vote for them. Only 27 percent said it would help their prospects.

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