Judge Cannon appears skeptical of Trump’s argument special counsel was illegally appointed: Live updates

A hearing in former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case ended with no ruling on Friday as Judge Aileen Cannon entertained a motion from the ex-commander-in-chief’s legal team that Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel.

Smith has brought charges for allegedly mishandling classified information in Florida and for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Washington DC.

The Trump argument that Smith’s appointment was illegal stems from the claim that Attorney General Merrick Garland doesn’t have the legal authority to appoint a special counsel who hasn’t been confirmed by the Senate.

The Department of Justice has argued that the attorney general has the power to appoint “inferior officers” – including special counsels. However, the Trump legal team argued that Smith is a “principal officer” and therefore needs confirmation.

During parts of the hearing, Cannon seemed to be skeptical of Trump’s argument that Smith was appointed illegally. But she also seemed not to be in agreement with the prosecution. She said that their statutory analysis appeared to be an excessively “malleable” reading of the Constitution, Lawfare reported.

Donald Trump may see a bump in the polls after the first debate because of a long-running trend: Incumbents tend to do worse in the first debate of the presidential election season.

Presidential debate historian Alan Schroeder explained to NBC News that a president’s life exists in a “protected bubble.” The first debate takes them outside of that bubble, where they’re forced to face off against a pumped up opponent who’s been itching for a showdown.

The first debate in this election cycle will be hosted by CNN in Atlanta on June 27. Biden is heading to Camp David