Special Counsel Jack Smith has received more bad news from a federal judge regarding his plans to rush his trial for President Donald Trump through before the November election.
A federal judge in Florida has expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of a plan by Smith to bring Trump to trial in July for his classified documents case.
The charges against Trump involve allegations that he stored government secrets at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon did not immediately indicate whether she believes the trial could take place before the 2024 presidential election.
However, during a crucial hearing, she expressed concern that the complex legal issues surrounding the classified evidence required for the trial could consume significant time over the next four months.
Trump’s legal team emphasized that his ability to prepare for the Florida trial would be further hindered due to a separate criminal trial he faces in New York.
The New York trial, which begins on March 25, is expected to last six weeks or longer.
Judge Cannon signals doubts about Jack Smith’s timeline for Trump trial in Florida https://t.co/e74279bwxo
— POLITICO (@politico) March 1, 2024
While the classified docs trial in Florida is officially scheduled to start on May 20, Cannon is likely to postpone it.
The duration of the delay remains uncertain, however.
Smith proposed a new trial date of July 8 as the special counsel and the Democrats desperately seek to derail Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Trump’s lawyers, meanwhile, argue that the trial should not proceed until after the election.
Cannon expressed concern about the proposed timeline.
The judge notes that it would compress pretrial arguments and deliberation into short windows.
She stated, “To try to do 13 motions in a day or even two days seems unrealistic.”
The political backdrop of the 2024 campaign is significant because if Trump is elected and the trial is pending, he could direct the Justice Department to terminate the case.
Cannon, however, avoided direct reference to the election during the hearing.
The judge appeared receptive to the defense’s argument that various components of the federal government should be treated as part of the prosecution team, affecting the amount of evidence Trump and his co-defendants are entitled to.
Cannon indicated a willingness to grant a hearing on this issue.
During the afternoon session, lawyers debated the prosecution’s request to keep witness names and statements confidential.
Trump and his co-defendants oppose this sealing.
Cannon questioned the necessity of secrecy, expressing concern that it could hinder public access to important case details.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Cannon did not indicate when she would rule on the trial schedule or the secrecy issue.
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