Attorneys representing former President Donald Trump, Chris Kise and Todd Blanche, arrived at The Alto Lee Adams Sr. United States Courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida on July 18, 2023 (source: Getty Images). The judge overseeing Trump’s federal criminal case expressed doubts about his request to delay the trial until after the 2024 election, while also seeming unenthusiastic about the Department of Justice’s suggestion to start the trial in mid-December. Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, stated that while she understands the need for more time, certain deadlines could be established now.
The hearing concluded without a ruling, but the judge appeared dismissive of some arguments. Particularly, a defense attorney claimed that Trump would not receive a fair trial as a top presidential candidate, to which Judge Cannon seemed unsympathetic. Notably, Trump is currently the front-runner in the Republican primary field, further heightening concerns about a biased jury.
This Tuesday afternoon hearing marked the first pretrial proceeding in the unprecedented federal criminal case against Trump and his aide, Walt Nauta. Trump faces 37 criminal counts related to the mishandling of classified documents after his presidency, with the most serious charges carrying a maximum prison term of 20 years. On June 13, he pleaded not guilty to all counts. Nauta, Trump’s valet and co-defendant, also pleaded not guilty to six criminal charges earlier this month.
Held in Fort Pierce, Florida, the hearing took place before Judge Cannon, who had previously presided over a related legal dispute regarding the classified documents seized from Mar-a-Lago by the FBI. Criticism was directed at her when she granted Trump’s request for an independent official to review the seized records, temporarily stalling the Department of Justice’s investigation.
Originally intended to address the handling of sensitive classified information, the hearing’s focus shifted after Judge Cannon instructed the parties to come prepared with proposals for the trial start date. During the hearing, Prosecutor Jay Bratt revealed that they had already produced 1.1 million pages of documents as part of the evidence-sharing process. This includes 1,545 pages of classified discovery. The Department of Justice also rebutted the argument that Trump’s status as a former president and current presidential candidate necessitates special treatment. According to prosecutor David Harbagh, courts have traditionally utilized mechanisms that ensure fair jury selection, regardless of the celebrity or status of the defendant.
Trump’s defense team sought to delay the trial date, citing an extensive amount of evidence to review, including years’ worth of surveillance video footage that has yet to be uploaded. They also argued that this case deviates from the norm due to Trump being prosecuted by the Biden administration, potentially his opponent in the 2024 election.
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