CNN
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Judge Eileen Cannon indefinitely postponed former President Donald Trump’s classified documents trial in Florida, citing serious issues surrounding classified evidence that need to be resolved before a federal criminal case goes to a jury.
In Tuesday’s order, Cannon canceled a May trial date and did not set a new date. Trump appeared in criminal court in New York on Tuesday for his hush money trial, but Cannon’s move means no trial dates have been set for the other three criminal cases against him at this time. .
Cannon’s order postpones the classified documents trial indefinitely, moving it closer to the 2024 election and potentially beyond.
The judge’s new schedule lists all the legal disputes that Cannon must decide before a jury hears the case. Cannon said the process will take at least until late July of this year.
Cannon noted in Tuesday’s order that there are eight substantive pending motions that have not yet been decided. He also reiterated that he believes the allegations of national security misconduct in the case “present novel and difficult questions.”
Although all parties agreed they would not be ready for a jury trial in May, prosecutors still insisted on a July trial date, while Trump and his co-defendants pushed for August and September dates. Proposed. Still, Trump’s lawyers continue to argue in court filings that the pre-election trial is “unfair.”
Further delays in the trial could put President Trump’s two federal lawsuits on a collision course.
The former president is being indicted in Washington, D.C., for crimes he committed while in office in an effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. That case, also brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team, is on hold while the Supreme Court considers President Trump’s claim of blanket immunity. The High Court’s decision is expected to be handed down by July.
Trump is accused of mishandling classified documents and colluding with two co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, to obstruct the Justice Department’s investigation in the Florida case. ing. All three have maintained their innocence.
In his new rescheduling order, Cannon said he would hold hearings on what was considered a long shot for Trump to request records from the Biden administration.
The public hearing is scheduled to begin on June 24 and last for three days.
Cannon’s move marks a significant victory for the would-be 2024 Republican presidential nominee. The proceedings will give President Trump and his lawyers a platform to promote baseless theories about the prosecution, including accusations that it is politically motivated.
Mr Smith’s lawyers have strongly denied allegations of political bias and opposed holding the hearing as unnecessary and unwarranted.
Cannon also scheduled a June 21 hearing on Trump’s claims that Smith was illegally appointed.
In seeking records from the Biden administration, President Trump has argued that he has the right to obtain extensive records from various federal agencies, including President Joe Biden’s White House, because those agencies have This is because President Trump claims to be part of the top prosecutor’s team.
Smith’s office called Trump’s theory “baseless,” the discovery request “frivolous,” and the defense’s arguments fall far short of the high standards for such litigation. I objected.
This story has been updated with additional information.
