Federal Judge Delays Start of Trump’s Classified Documents Trial Indefinitely
A federal judge in Florida has indefinitely postponed the start of the criminal trial involving former President Donald Trump and classified documents, according to a court filing on Tuesday.
The trial, which revolves around allegations that Trump knowingly held onto classified national security records post his tenure in the White House and concealed them from federal authorities, was initially slated to commence on May 20.
However, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon’s recent ruling has nullified this date and instead outlined a fresh series of pretrial proceedings, with the next hearing scheduled for July 22.
This development raises uncertainties about whether Trump, the presumed Republican nominee for the presidency, will undergo trial on federal criminal charges prior to the upcoming November 5 election.
Trump’s legal team has advocated for postponing the trial until after the election. Cannon, whom Trump himself appointed to the federal bench in southern Florida, cited ongoing issues surrounding the handling of classified information and the need for additional pretrial preparations as reasons for delaying the trial.
In her court order issued on Tuesday, Cannon emphasized the importance of addressing these unresolved matters before finalizing a trial date. She underscored the court’s obligation to ensure due process and uphold the fair and efficient administration of justice.
As of now, Trump faces a total of 88 criminal charges across four different jurisdictions as he continues his bid to challenge President Joe Biden. Presently, he is embroiled in a trial in Manhattan Supreme Court concerning allegations of falsifying business records related to a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
With Cannon’s recent ruling casting further uncertainty, the likelihood of any of Trump’s pending cases proceeding to trial before the Election Day remains unclear.
In addition to the classified documents case, Trump faces charges in federal court in Washington, D.C., for allegedly conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He also confronts election-interference allegations in Georgia state court.