A federal judge soon must make at least two key decisions that will set the stage for the historic Florida classified documents case against former President Donald Trump and his aide.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon held her first pretrial hearing in the case on July 18 in Fort Pierce, Florida. After listening to lawyers’ arguments about possible trial dates for about two hours, the judge said she would issue a written decision “promptly,” The Associated Press reported.
Later, Judge Cannon will also be faced with a particularly pivotal issue at the heart of the allegations against Mr. Trump: How classified information will be allowed to be shared as the case unfolds.
The former president and co-defendant Walt Nauta have pleaded not guilty to charges related to their alleged mishandling of classified documents. The FBI seized many such records from Mr. Trump’s Florida residence in August 2022. Both defendants appeared before another judge in a much-publicized arraignment in Miami last month.
Prosecutors requested that Judge Cannon set the trial to begin on Dec. 11.
But Mr. Trump’s lawyers want the judge to postpone the trial until sometime after the presidential election, Nov. 5, 2024. They argue that they need more time to prepare for the extraordinarily complex case. They also say they doubt that their client can get a fair trial in advance of the election.
Effect of Candidacy Debated
Prosecutors, however, dispute the complexity of the case, the timeline of which goes back to January 2021, when Mr. Trump took the records with him as he left the White House. Prosecutors also argue that Mr. Trump’s presidential run shouldn’t affect the legal process.
However, Mr. Trump asserts that he is being targeted for prosecution precisely because he is running a promising campaign for reelection to the office he held from 2017-21. He is the current frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination.
By Janice Hisle
