District Judge Aileen Cannon, who recently dismissed Donald Trump’s classified documents case, is now being considered as a potential candidate for the position of attorney general in a second Trump administration. According to ABC News, Judge Cannon’s name is included in a planning document titled “Transition Planning: Legal Principals,” which was drafted by top advisers of the former president, including Boris Epshteyn.
The document also reportedly includes other controversial figures from the Trumpworld who are being considered for top law enforcement positions. Mike Davis, who has stirred controversy with his statements calling for journalists to be imprisoned and immigrants to be held in “cages,” is said to be in the running for attorney general. Additionally, Trump’s former assistant attorney general Jeffrey Clark, as well as attorney Todd Blanche, are also reportedly being considered for key roles within the administration.
Judge Cannon made headlines earlier this year when she dismissed 40 criminal charges related to allegations that Trump had withheld classified documents and obstructed government efforts to retrieve them after leaving the White House for his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Despite being appointed to the bench by Trump himself in 2020, Judge Cannon’s ruling did not delve into the specifics of the case against the former president but instead focused on procedural grounds.
In a surprising turn of events, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s opinion on presidential immunity raised questions about the constitutionality of special counsel appointments, which ultimately played a role in the dismissal of Trump’s case. Judge Cannon referenced Thomas’s opinion in her ruling, further complicating the legal landscape surrounding the case.
As the possibility of Judge Cannon becoming the next attorney general under a second Trump administration looms, concerns have been raised about the implications of appointing individuals with ties to Trump’s legal battles to key government positions. The decision on whether Judge Cannon will indeed be nominated for the role remains to be seen, but the potential move has already sparked debate and criticism.
Overall, the consideration of Judge Cannon for the position of attorney general highlights the intersection of politics, the law, and personal allegiances in the realm of top government appointments. It also underscores the ongoing reverberations of legal challenges and controversies from the previous administration, signalling potential shifts in the landscape of the US justice system.