Thread by @JeffRoushPoetry

I’ve seen a lot of surprise on here regarding Judge Cannon ruling against Trump’s motion to dismiss. For those saying that she did the “right thing,” I have some bad news for you. (Thread)
#ResistanceUnited
#DemVoice1

First, this was a simple legal issue with an easy answer—one that did not require hearings. The Espionage Act is neither new nor unconstitutionally vague. The motions were frivolous, and the legal answer didn’t require anything more than briefs. This was an unnecessary delay.

Second, as @AWeissmann_ and @neal_katyal noted with @Lawrence tonight, she denied the motion “without prejudice”—meaning Trump’s lawyers can raise the argument later. And the order doesn’t even cover the Presidential Records Act, so that is still out there.

Now, if Cannon has ruled in Trump’s favor and dismissed the case, it would have gone right to the 11th Circuit. Based on what we’ve seen when she’s been overruled before, they would have been quick and decisive—much more so than this denial for now.

So rather than give a firm ruling on a clear issue, Cannon’s quasi-denial amounts to a delay that opens the door to more delay later. Every bit of it inures to Trump’s benefit by keeping decisions out of the hands of more serious judges.

Judge Cannon is not stupid. I don’t believe her rulings and delays are the results of incompetence. I can’t know whether this is the result of a carrot (a SCOTUS seat) or a stick (blackmail), but I’m certain it is intentional. And it’s nefarious.

I’m just as certain that (1) this is legally the easiest case against Trump, and (2) there is no way it will be resolved before the election. Jack Smith and his team are talented and tenacious, but they will not save us from ourselves in 2024. It’s on us.

All the facts are out there. Trump took documents to which he wasn’t entitled, lied about them, and intentionally prevented their return. He very likely has traded or sold national military plans and secrets. And his primary defense is that he is allowed to do so.

As citizens and voters, our job is to decide whether we are okay with a president who acts so cavalierly to endanger our national security and the safety of our military members. It should not require a timely guilty verdict to say we are not.

Trump and virtually every Republican in Congress want him not only to get away with this, but to be in position to do more damage. Until the GOP is something other than cravenly loyal to Trump, we must keep them out of power. This election is crucial. #VoteBlue