Jack SMITH transfers docs appeal (CANON) to Florida Atty's Office - keeping it alive

[onenote]

16. My take: the analysis makes no sense

Popok's theory seems to be that Smith stepped aside in order to put pressure on the 11th Circuit to act on the appeal of Cannon's ruling on the constitutionality of the special counsel appointment. Apparently, he also believes that Trump will be deterred from firing the US attorney who now is in charge of the case,

But it's the height of naïveté to think Trump would hesitate to ask the US attorney to resign or hesitate to fire him. Indeed, if keeping the case going was the strategy, Smith would have stayed on, since firing him is more difficult than firing a US attorney -- although Bondi would do so in an instant if Trump tells her too. Finally, in all likelihood, the 11th Circuit would be more than happy to have the case go away, especially with Smith shutting down his office, which means even if the case moved forward under the direction of the US attorney, a reversal of Cannon wouldn't
revive the Special Counsel office.

Smith stepped aside because he wants to be gone before Trump tries to fire him. He knows that Trump can and will derail the case against Nauta and de Oliveira -- or Trump will pardon them, mooting the case.