Ex-DOJ Official Shows How Postponing Trumps Docs Trial May Actually Backfire

Former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal  on Tuesday slammed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannons indefinite postponement of the trial of Donald Trump over his classified documents case as atrocious.

But the Obama-era Justice Department official said he did see one ray of light.

The one thing I will say thats a positive is that if the Supreme Court allows [special counsel] Jack Smiths other trial of Trump and Jan. 6 to go forward, Judge Cannons decision today has now cleared the docket for Trump, Katyal told MSNBC s Alex Wagner.

Trumps hush money trial will be over in a month or so, and then the coast is clear for Donald Trump to be tried for the crimes that hes alleged to have committed on Jan. 6, Katyal added.

Wagner asked Katyal about the chances of preemptive GOP presidential nominee Trumps Jan. 6 federal trial happening before the 2024 election.

I still think its possible, Katyal replied. I know that after the Supreme Court oral argument, many observers said its going to be tough. But I do think it is very possible, and Judge Cannons decision today makes it more possible.

In the federal Jan. 6 case, Trump is accused of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden . That trial was due to begin on March 4 but is on hold as the conservative-majority Supreme Court decides on Trumps claim to total immunity for potential criminal acts committed when in the White House.

Watch Katyals full analysis here: