All Donald Trump can do is whine as Jack Smith wipes the floor with him
Special Counsel Jack Smith is undaunted when it comes to Donald Trump. He requested an expedited ruling from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, and that request was granted. The three-judge panel includes Judge Karen Henderson (George H.W. Bush), Judge J. Michelle Childs (Biden), and Judge Florence Pan (Biden). Trump will likely say they’re against him even before they rule, since he thinks everyone is in cahoots with President Biden. The Court has set several deadlines for the filing of briefs by both sides. Appeals always delay a pending matter, and this case is no different. In fact, Judge Tanya Chutkan delayed the trial based on the Court of Appeals filing. She had no choice since Trump’s defense will either move forward or be crushed depending on the Court of Appeals’ final ruling.
Trump’s attorneys, as expected, opposed the expedited ruling request. In their opposition, they wrote: “A rushed schedule, as the prosecution demands, would vitiate these constitutional rights and irreparably undermine public confidence in the judicial system.” The opposite is true. Criminal trials on the federal level are ruled by the speedy trial clock, which requires that matters are adjudicated with all due haste. In fact, violation of the speedy trial clock can result in a dismissal of charges. Pauses such as that made by Judge Chutkan stop the clock, and it will restart once the Court of Appeals issues a ruling. Of course, Trump can then appeal to SCOTUS, which will, once again, stop the clock, but Smith already asked SCOTUS to intervene.
The real problem with this situation is that Trump is guilty. There is no doubt, as we all watched it unfold on national television. The only defense he has is that because he was “president,” he is immune to charges. That defense, however, is a double-edged sword. Who wants a president in office that can call a mob to do his dirt? We need someone who can and will care about and do things that benefit us, not him. It is no surprise, then, that Trump uses the charges against him to his benefit. At his latest rally, he declared the charges “a badge of honor.” He complained about Smith’s expedited request, claiming that Smith is trying to “rush it to the Supreme Court.” None of this makes sense. If he were truly innocent as he claims, he would welcome the opportunity to prove his innocence as quickly as possible and put this behind him, but he is not innocent.
It is obvious why Trump is stalling. If he can win the 2024 election, he will simply shut all of this down, which is also why Jack Smith is expediting it. The Special Counsel has put many hours into cornering Trump, and he knows that Trump’s conviction is what’s best for this country. The issue ultimately is whether Trump will win the 2024 election. Trump is so full of himself and so sure he’s going to win, but many don’t believe that’s going to happen. If he doesn’t win, Smith will continue with his prosecutions. What ridiculous defenses will he use then?
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years