Topline
The federal judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s criminal document handling case indicated in a hearing Wednesday the trial could be pushed due to conflicts with his other trial dates, multiple reports said—as Trump grapples with multiple conflicting state and federal cases that could go to trial over the next year.
Federal District Court Judge Aileen Cannon indicated in a hearing on Wednesday that she would make … [+]
Key Facts
Judge Aileen Cannon said she would make “reasonable adjustments” to Trump’s trial schedule due to concerns the current date may “collide” with a separate federal election conspiracy trial, according to a New York Times reporter.
Earlier this year, Cannon selected May 20 as the start date for a jury trial in the criminal case, which accuses Trump of mishandling classified documents after he left office.
In October, Trump’s attorneys requested the trial be delayed until “at least mid-November” so it doesn’t conflict with the presidential election or his other trial dates, at least one of which would currently conflict with the schedule.
Trump’s lawyers told Cannon Wednesday they need more time to prepare for trial because of the “voluminous” evidence, some of which is classified, according to the Washington Post, but prosecutors argued they’ve had plenty of time and asked Cannon to keep the May date.
Crucial Quote
“I’m having a hard time seeing how this work can be accomplished in this compressed time frame,” Cannon said Wednesday, according to the Washington Post.
What To Watch For
When Cannon moves the trial to. Another federal criminal case that accuses Trump of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss is set to start March 4, 2024. A trial date hasn’t been set in a Georgia state criminal case for election interference, and a New York state case for allegedly falsifying business records is set to start on March 25, 2024.
Key Background
Trump is facing 40 federal felony charges in the classified documents case, which is just one of four indictments the former president is balancing while campaigning for the Republican nomination. He also faces a federal indictment for his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, and the indictments in Georgia and New York. The federal case for mishandling documents began when prosecutors investigated Trump bringing records from the White House to Mar-A-Lago, and eventually subpoenaed him for all remaining classified documents at his Florida estate. Prosecutors didn’t believe Trump turned over all the documents, which led to a search of the Mar-A-Lago property that resulted in finding more than 100 additional classified materials. Charges against the former president include violations of the Espionage Act, making false statements and obstructing justice. Trump has pleaded not guilty. Cannon has faced criticism in the past for her handling of the case: Before the Department of Justice brought charges against Trump, she ordered an independent “special master” to review evidence seized from Trump’s Mar-A-Lago estate, a ruling that was overturned by an appeals court.
Further Reading
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2023/11/01/judge-could-delay-trumps-classified-documents-trial-reports-say/