Donald Trump’s trial in Florida on charges of illegally keeping classified documents after leaving office has been indefinitely postponed, a judge decided on Tuesday, greatly reducing the odds he will face a jury in either of the two federal criminal cases against him before the Nov. 5 U.S. election.
Scheduled initially for May 20, the trial in the documents case, overseen by Special Counsel Jack Smith, was anticipated to be rescheduled due to mutual acknowledgment from both the prosecution and defense.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump in 2020, announced on Tuesday the cancellation of the May 20 start date, without setting a new schedule, but scheduled pre-trial hearings until July 22.
The advancement of Smith’s federal cases against Trump faces substantial hurdles. Cannon’s decisions on pivotal legal matters in the documents case are pending, with indications of leaning towards Trump’s defense on certain fronts.
In a separate case concerning Trump’s endeavors to overturn the 2020 election results, the U.S. Supreme Court appears inclined to grant some level of immunity to former presidents regarding official actions, potentially prolonging Trump’s election-related case as lower courts navigate the scope of this legal protection.
Trump’s legal team had proposed an August 12 date for the documents case trial, responding to Cannon’s directive to outline a timeline. Smith suggested a July commencement.
Trump’s lawyers have consistently pursued postponements in all four criminal cases against him, prompting legal scholars to raise concerns about the unprecedented prospect of a defendant influencing the course of their own prosecution.
Trump currently faces trial in New York state court over allegations of concealing hush money payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, alongside charges in Georgia for his role in disputing the 2020 election outcome.
Trump has characterized all legal proceedings against him as politically motivated maneuvers.
The charges in the Florida case encompass violations of the Espionage Act, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and providing false statements to investigators.
According to an April Reuters/Ipsos poll, a significant portion of Republican respondents and a majority of independents indicated they would not support Trump if convicted of a felony.
If either federal case proceeds to trial before the election, it would likely occur shortly before November 5, potentially triggering accusations of election meddling from Trump’s legal team.
Attorney Kel McClanahan, specializing in national security issues, highlighted the judicial caution surrounding trying a presidential candidate in the weeks leading up to an election.
However, a Trump victory in November could prevent either case from reaching trial, with the possibility of him directing the Justice Department to drop charges or issuing a self-pardon.
Smith’s legal team has been assertive in pushing for swift trial proceedings, arguing for the public’s right to a prompt trial. Prosecutor Jay Bratt assured Cannon that an autumn trial would not breach Justice Department guidelines regarding election impact.
Cannon has rejected two dismissal attempts by Trump but has several unresolved matters pending. She has also indicated that Trump’s claim of the documents being personal records could influence future jury instructions, potentially leading to appeals and further delays.
{Matzav.com}
