The trial for the classified documents involving Trump may experience postponement, as the judge is contemplating modifications to the schedule.
The court’s case involving classified documents against ex-President Donald Trump in Ft. Pierce, Florida may experience delays that could push the trial into the 2024 election period. This comes after a judge hinted at potentially granting Trump’s motion to change the pretrial timeline.
Judge Aileen Cannon
A federal judge, appointed by Trump, presided over a hearing on Wednesday where both the former president’s lawyers and special counsel Jack Smith’s team presented arguments regarding Trump’s request to alter the litigation timeline. This change could potentially postpone the trial date, currently set for May 2024, until after the 2024 presidential election.
Cannon expressed difficulty in understanding how this schedule would be feasible given the tight schedules and numerous trials in various locations. He mentioned that Trump has another federal case in Washington, D.C. brought by Smith that is scheduled for trial in January 2024, along with other legal deadlines related to the state charges he is facing.
2016 election
Accused of multiple offenses related to illegal possession of classified information, these charges were filed following the 2016 presidential election.FBI recovered documents
Last year, Trump was found with classified markings at his residence in Mar-a-Lago. He has denied any wrongdoing and entered a not guilty plea for all charges, including allegations of conspiring to obstruct the investigation. His co-defendants in the case have also pleaded not guilty.
Trump’s legal team has stated in official documents that the current trial schedule is too rushed and has requested for it to be changed. His co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, have also expressed the same opinion. Both Nauta and De Oliveira have pleaded not guilty in the case.
Cannon expressed concern about the timeline for Trump’s lawyers to examine the evidence within the next six months. He noted the extensive amount of materials, including 1.3 million pages of documents and several years’ worth of security camera footage, that the prosecution has given to the defense. Additionally, there are over 5,500 pages of classified material that can only be accessed in a secure location.
But Smith’s team in court filings and at Wednesday’s hearing pushed back, arguing the requested delays are “not a surprise,” but an attempt to drag out the proceedings.
“If you look at what has been done by the defense’s position, they delay as long as they can,” prosecutor Jay Bratt told Cannon, urging her to keep the May 2024 trial date.
The special counsel’s office stated in legal documents that the defendants have been given thorough and timely access to unclassified evidence, which clearly outlines the allegations made in the revised indictment. The majority of classified evidence is also accessible to the defendants.
postpone the trial until after the November elections
The ex-president has previously urged a federal judge to delay one of the special counsel’s trials until after the election. In the past, Trump had requested Judge Tanya Chutkan to postpone the trial until after the November elections.
Postpone the case pertaining to the 2020 election. against him until April 2026, noting the amount of evidence in the case and the presidential election.
2024-2025 season
Ultimately, Chutkan decided that waiting until 2026 was too lengthy and instead ordered the case to commence in March 2024, during the 2024-2025 season.presidential primary campaign
According to Chutkan, Mr. Trump must attend the trial on the set date, even if it conflicts with his schedule. Chutkan has stated that the date will not be changed.
The ex-president has entered a plea of not guilty for both federal cases and has denied any wrongdoing.
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Source: cbsnews.com