Trial Date Set for Former President Trump's Classified Documents Case

Summary:

• A new court date has been set for former President Donald Trump's classified documents trial on May 20th at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse.
• Judge Eileen Cannon's ruling denies the request to indefinitely postpone the trial and considers the DOJ's proposed December date as accelerated and inconsistent with ensuring a fair trial.
• Trump pleads not guilty to 37 criminal counts related to alleged mishandling of classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago estate last summer.

A new court date has been set for former President Donald Trump's classified documents trial. Judge Eileen Cannon scheduled the trial for May 20th at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse.

For the past few days, we have been waiting to see what decision Judge Eileen Cannon would make on the trial date. Now it's been set. May 20th of next year in Fort Pierce. The date is considered a compromise between both the prosecution and defense. The Justice Department was seeking a much earlier December 11th start date. Meanwhile, Trump's attorneys wanted the trial to be indefinitely postponed until after the 2024 presidential election. In Judge Eileen Cannon's ruling this morning, she states that she doesn't see a sufficient basis to indefinitely postpone the trial. Meanwhile, she considered the DOJ's request for a December date, quote, a typically accelerated and inconsistent with ensuring a fair trial. This is all related to Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents, found at his Mar-a-Lago estate last summer. The former president pleaded not guilty to 37 criminal counts last month in Miami. The case also sits right in the middle of the Republican presidential primaries. While most states, including Florida, will be done with theirs during that time, some states, including New Jersey and Kentucky, will be after the start of the trial. Since his Mar-a-Lago home was searched last August, the former president has denied all wrongdoing, calling the entire process a political witch hunt.

The trial is expected to draw significant attention as it unfolds, given the involvement of a former president and the national security implications of the classified documents. We will keep you updated on any further developments in this case. Caleb Califano, WPBF 25 News.