Judge Aileen Cannon has indefinitely delayed the trial for former President Donald Trump in Florida, which centers around his handling of classified documents. The trial, which was initially scheduled for May, has been postponed without setting a new date. This delay means that none of the four criminal cases against Trump currently have trial dates, creating uncertainty about when they will proceed.
By postponing the classified documents trial, Judge Cannon has potentially pushed it closer to the 2024 election or even beyond. The reason for the delay involves complexities surrounding the handling of classified evidence, which require additional time to resolve. In her order, Judge Cannon outlined that the process to address these issues will likely extend into late July, further complicating the scheduling of the case.
Cannon’s decision follows several unresolved legal disputes in the case, with eight pending motions still to be decided. She highlighted that the national security issues at stake pose “novel and difficult questions,” requiring careful consideration.
Prosecutors had hoped for a July trial date, while Trump’s legal team suggested dates in August or September, arguing that a trial before the 2024 election would be “unfair.” The indefinite postponement of the trial is seen as a win for Trump, who is the leading Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
The delay also creates potential conflicts with Trump’s other federal case in Washington, D.C., where he is charged with trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election. That case has been paused while the Supreme Court reviews Trump’s claims of presidential immunity, with a decision expected in July.
In the Florida case, Trump, along with co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, faces charges of mishandling classified documents and obstructing the Department of Justice’s investigation. All three have pleaded not guilty. Judge Cannon has set a hearing for June 24, lasting three days, to consider Trump’s request for records from the Biden administration. This request is part of Trump’s claim that the prosecution is politically motivated, a claim strongly denied by prosecutors.
The hearing on June 21 will focus on Trump’s assertion that Special Counsel Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed. Smith’s team has opposed Trump’s request for records, calling it “baseless” and “frivolous.” The outcome of these hearings will likely play a significant role in shaping the course of the trial and the broader narrative surrounding Trump’s legal challenges.
