'Reason for optimism': Expert shows Jack Smith's 'strong case' for replacing Judge Cannon

Special Counsel Jack Smith could potentially replace Judge Aileen Cannon, who oversees Donald Trump's documents case in Florida, if conditions are right.

Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance appeared on MSNBC's Alex Wagner Tonight on Thursday, and was asked about the Mar-a-Lago case and whether she thought it would ultimately be tried. Specifically, Wagner asked Vance whether she has "optimism" regarding that case making it to trial before the general election.

"I haven't used the word optimism in the same sentence with the Mar-a-Lago case for a long time," Vance replied. "It's a simple case in terms of how to get the case ready for trial. It should've already been at trial."

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Vance added that "the judge seems intent on slow walking it."

"But she's up against her own deadline to hold a section four hearing on the classified information. And of course prosecutors have the ability, if they don't like her rulings there, to take an interlocutory appeal ahead of trial," she explained, adding that there is a "strong case here for the 11th circuit, given the law in our circuit, to suggest that she should step aside."

"Not because she has any clear bias but because given her history with this defendant and these cases and the earlier issue involving the search at Mar-a-Lago, public confidence is better served with another judge on the case," Vance clarified. "There are a lot of ifs in that sentence. But if this case gets to the point where Jack Smith does decide to take an interlocutory appeal on this issue, then perhaps there would be reason for optimism if this case were to go to another judge."

Watch the video below or click the link right here.