Special counsel Jack Smith and attorneys for Donald Trump have proposed a new trial date for the former president’s criminal trial on Thursday. mishandled confidential documents and national security secrets.
Federal prosecutors he suggested July 8 is the starting date, and Trump’s lawyers suggested that he should be tried on August 12. Trump’s proposed date came as a surprise because he and his lawyers had argued that the trial should be held after the November presidential election.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, asked both sides to offer a timetable ahead of a hearing on the matter in Fort Pierce, Florida, on Friday. The case was originally scheduled to go to trial in May, but the original start date is expected to be pushed back due to a number of crucial legal issues that have yet to be resolved by the court.
If the judge agrees to Trump’s proposed date, it could potentially conflict with Fulton County District Attorney Fannie Willis’ plans to prosecute Trump’s meddling in the Georgia election. His office looking for an august trial datealthough no trial date has been set.
Their giving On Thursday, Trump’s lawyers said the schedule they drew up respected Cannon’s request for proposals from all sides, but they made it clear they believed the court should push back further.
“As the leading candidate in the 2024 elections, President Trump categorically declares that a fair trial cannot be conducted this year in accordance with the Constitution,” his lawyers said, adding that there are some issues that Trump wants to resolve soon. .
“President Trump seeks to timely assert his important rights through these proceedings, including his motions to be impeached under the Presidential Records Act, presidential immunity, and those based on selective and retaliatory prosecution, which would require substantial disclosure and fact-finding.” applied.
His lawyers also claimed that the Supreme Court plans to hear and rule on Trump claims of presidential immunity in a federal election interference case, “may provide guidance as it evaluates Mr. President Trump’s motion to dismiss based on presidential immunity. President Trump respectfully submits that the Court is considering proposed schedules for the remainder of this illegal case. .”
Claims of immunity have already been fought in court was delayed Federal election work scheduled to begin on March 4. The case is now on hold until the Supreme Court rules on the immunity challenge, which it said it would not rule this week. to hear the arguments Through the week of April 22nd.
Election work in Georgia may also be delayed. There is some debate as to whether Willis will be available Friday afternoon dismissed due to the conflict of interest of the special prosecutor he appointed to the case.
That leaves only one of the four pending Trump criminal trials with a firm start date — the Manhattan District Attorney’s case alleging Trump falsified business records to cover up hush money payments. This is planned go to court Trump has pleaded not guilty in the case and denied any wrongdoing.
In June, Trump was indicted on allegations related to the documents lied to federal investigators To keep sensitive material he knew was still classified after he left the White House. He later faced additional charges of attempting to obstruct an investigation.
Trump and his two co-defendantsWalt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira pleaded not guilty to all charges.