Judge Aileen Cannon has decided to indefinitely postpone the trial of former President Donald Trump in Florida over charges related to classified documents, citing significant issues that need to be resolved around handling classified evidence before the case goes to trial.
In her order issued Tuesday, Cannon canceled the May trial date and did not set a new one, creating uncertainty around when the trial might actually take place. Trump was in court Tuesday for a separate matter, related to hush money allegations in New York. Cannon’s decision means that there are currently no trial dates set for any of the other three criminal cases against Trump. By delaying the classified documents trial, Cannon’s order moves it closer to the 2024 election — and possibly beyond.
In her order, Cannon outlined several legal matters that need to be addressed before the trial can proceed. She mentioned that she would need at least until late July to work through these issues, noting that the case involves complex questions surrounding national security. Cannon pointed out that there are eight key motions pending her decision, adding to the complexity of the case.
Although both the prosecution and the defense agreed that the trial wouldn’t be ready in May, the two sides had proposed different timelines. Prosecutors suggested a July trial date, while Trump and his co-defendants suggested dates in August and September. Trump’s attorneys have consistently argued that a pre-election trial would be unfair.
Cannon’s delay could also create complications with other cases involving Trump. In Washington, DC, he faces charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. That case, also led by special counsel Jack Smith’s team, is currently on hold while the Supreme Court considers Trump’s claim of sweeping immunity. The court’s decision is expected in July.
Trump faces charges in the Florida case for mishandling classified documents and allegedly obstructing the Justice Department’s investigation with the help of two co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. All three have pleaded not guilty. Cannon has scheduled a hearing on June 24 to consider Trump’s request for records from the Biden administration, with proceedings set to last three days.
Cannon’s order is seen as a significant win for Trump, who is the leading Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential race. The hearings could offer his legal team a platform to promote their claims that the prosecution is politically motivated, a theory that prosecutors vehemently deny.
The judge has also scheduled a June 21 hearing to address Trump’s claim that Smith was unlawfully appointed. In his request for records from the Biden administration, Trump argues that he is entitled to a wide range of documents from various federal agencies, including those from President Joe Biden’s White House. Smith’s office has dismissed these claims as baseless, arguing that the request is frivolous and that the defense has not met the high threshold needed to justify such a proceeding.
