Judge Cannon’s latest ruling has turned the tables on special counsel Jack Smith, putting him in a precarious position. Will he comply with her ultimatum, or risk Trump’s acquittal?

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has delivered a significant blow to special counsel Jack Smith in the ongoing classified documents case involving former President Donald Trump. In her recent ruling, Judge Cannon has presented Smith with a crucial ultimatum, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal showdown. According to reports from The Daily Beast, the judge’s decision has left Smith with little room to maneuver, as he faces the daunting prospect of either allowing a jury to scrutinize all documents claimed by Trump as “personal” or risk the possibility of Trump’s acquittal due to lack of evidence.

Judge Cannon’s ruling, handed down Monday night, asserts that Smith must either permit a jury to examine all documents retained by Trump or instruct the jury on presidential authority in categorizing records. She emphasized the ambiguity of the 1978 Presidential Records Act (PRA) regarding a president’s discretion in classifying documents, noting that outgoing presidents’ decisions on what constitutes personal records are considered categorizations under the PRA.

“Although there is no formal means in the PRA by which a president is to make that categorization, an outgoing president’s decision to exclude what he/she considers to be personal records from presidential records transmitted to the National Archives and Records Administration constitutes a president’s categorization of those records as personal under the PRA,” she wrote.

The ruling poses a significant challenge to Smith, who must now carefully consider his next steps. Should he opt to appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, further delays in the already protracted trial are inevitable. This presents a dilemma for prosecutors, who are keen to avoid prolonging the trial beyond the 2024 election amidst other legal challenges faced by Trump.

Despite Trump’s claims that any documents in his possession were declassified under the PRA, the testimony of former Mar-a-Lago staff members has complicated the case. Judge Cannon’s decision to decline dismissing the case altogether indicates that the legal battle is far from over, intensifying the pressure on Smith as he navigates the complex legal terrain ahead.