Florida judge rejects Donald Trump’s request to delay May trial datein classified documents case – Times of India
NEW DELHI: A federal judge denied Donald Trump’s request to delay the May start of the trial in the special counsel’s classified documents case. Judge Aileen Cannon, in a recent court filing on Friday, kept open the option of rescheduling during a March 1 conference. The decision is a setback for Trump, who wanted a postponement due to ongoing civil and criminal cases in New York, Florida and Washington, D.C.
Cannon acknowledged the “an unusually high volume”of unclassified and classified discovery and access challenges, supporting Trump’s defense argument for more time.Cannon said that due process requires more time for the defendants to review the materials.
Trump’s legal team requested Judge Cannon to postpone the trial until after the 2024 election, similar to a plea in another case. The judge overseeing a separate inquiry into Trump’s actions post-2020 election rejected a comparable delay request. Originally set for May 20 in Fort Pierce, Florida, the trial’s timing remains unchanged.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, portrayed the ruling as a triumph, stating, “We look forward to the conference set by Judge Cannon for next March, where future scheduling matters, including a potential trial date, will be discussed.”
Cheung said, “The concerted effort by the Biden Administration to deny President Trump’s constitutional rights to prepare for trial reveal their corrupt motives”. “It is clearly in the best interest of Justice for President Trump to have adequate time to prepare and file motions as he works to defeat these hoaxes and marches back to the White House,” he added.
Last week, Judge Cannon heard arguments regarding the attempt to postpone the trial in Fort Pierce, located about 65 miles from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property. The special counsel’s indictment alleges that Trump retained and shared classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, instructing some employees to evade government retrieval efforts. An Attorney for Trump participated remotely from New York, where he is representing Trump.
Cannon, appointed to the bench by Trump in 2020, initially supported the defense when prosecutors raised concerns about attorneys representing a broad spectrum of Trump associates, paid by a political action committee linked to the former US president. These associates, including Trump’s co-defendants and potential trial witnesses, could pose a conflict of interest for attorneys representing them in other matters.
Special counsel Jack Smith has filed charges against Trump for mishandling classified documents post-presidency, along with Mar-a-Lago employees Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 40-count indictment, and the employees have also entered not guilty pleas for the charges they face.
Cannon acknowledged the “an unusually high volume”of unclassified and classified discovery and access challenges, supporting Trump’s defense argument for more time.Cannon said that due process requires more time for the defendants to review the materials.
Trump’s legal team requested Judge Cannon to postpone the trial until after the 2024 election, similar to a plea in another case. The judge overseeing a separate inquiry into Trump’s actions post-2020 election rejected a comparable delay request. Originally set for May 20 in Fort Pierce, Florida, the trial’s timing remains unchanged.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, portrayed the ruling as a triumph, stating, “We look forward to the conference set by Judge Cannon for next March, where future scheduling matters, including a potential trial date, will be discussed.”
Cheung said, “The concerted effort by the Biden Administration to deny President Trump’s constitutional rights to prepare for trial reveal their corrupt motives”. “It is clearly in the best interest of Justice for President Trump to have adequate time to prepare and file motions as he works to defeat these hoaxes and marches back to the White House,” he added.
Last week, Judge Cannon heard arguments regarding the attempt to postpone the trial in Fort Pierce, located about 65 miles from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property. The special counsel’s indictment alleges that Trump retained and shared classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, instructing some employees to evade government retrieval efforts. An Attorney for Trump participated remotely from New York, where he is representing Trump.
Cannon, appointed to the bench by Trump in 2020, initially supported the defense when prosecutors raised concerns about attorneys representing a broad spectrum of Trump associates, paid by a political action committee linked to the former US president. These associates, including Trump’s co-defendants and potential trial witnesses, could pose a conflict of interest for attorneys representing them in other matters.
Special counsel Jack Smith has filed charges against Trump for mishandling classified documents post-presidency, along with Mar-a-Lago employees Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 40-count indictment, and the employees have also entered not guilty pleas for the charges they face.
