Trump's Trial Over Classified Documents to Begin in 2024
Summary:
- Former President Trump's trial on 37 federal charges related to mishandling classified documents is scheduled to begin on May 20th, 2024.
- The trial date was delayed to accommodate Trump's legal team's request for more time to review evidence after the presidential election.
- A third indictment against Trump is being discussed in connection with the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Former President Trump will stand trial on charges he mishandled classified material in 2024. The federal trial is set to begin mid-May, just a few months before the 2024 presidential election.
A federal judge in Florida has scheduled May 20th, 2024, as the trial date for former President Donald Trump, who is facing 37 federal charges related to the mishandling of classified documents. The Department of Justice initially wanted a December start date, but Trump's legal team requested the court to postpone the trial until after the presidential election, citing the need for more time to review emails, testimony, and documents seized from their location. Judge Eileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, agreed with the request, stating that the case meets the legal definition of complexity and requires an extended trial schedule. She also deemed the proposed timeline by the prosecutors as accelerated and potentially inconsistent with ensuring a fair trial.
The trial delay has been considered a major setback for the DOJ by the House campaign, while President Trump and his legal team view it as an opportunity to continue fighting the charges. However, new challenges await as special counsel Jack Smith's office is reportedly discussing a possible third indictment against Trump, related to the Justice Department's criminal investigation into the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump may soon face yet another criminal indictment, adding to the legal battles he is already confronting.