Former President Donald Trump has won another victory in his attempt to delay his criminal trial for allegedly mishandling White House documents. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, has indefinitely extended a key deadline, slowing the trial process even further. The deadline was originally set for Trump to disclose what classified materials his legal team plans to introduce at trial. This filing is crucial as it could spark a legal battle over what classified materials can be used, potentially delaying the trial even more.
Trump’s lawyers had pushed for a delay earlier in the day, accusing Special Counsel Jack Smith and government prosecutors of mishandling evidence by moving documents out of order within the boxes recovered from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Cannon’s decision to extend the deadline is just the latest in a series of delays in the case, further postponing the start of the trial. The trial, initially set to begin on May 20, has now been put on hold indefinitely as the judge has yet to set a new date, even after a hearing on the matter in March.
The Justice Department has not yet responded to Cannon’s order, but prosecutors have previously stated that they do not believe any shuffling of documents within the boxes justifies delaying the disclosure of what documents should be used at trial. Trump’s co-defendant also made a similar argument. The future timeline of the trial remains uncertain, with new deadlines for the disclosure of classified documents expected to be set by Cannon. Trump’s lawyers have indicated they plan to file additional motions based on the handling of the documents, potentially asking for sanctions against prosecutors or even dismissal of the charges.
The start date of Trump’s trial remains unknown as Cannon has not yet ruled on when the trial will take place. Prosecutors have suggested a rescheduled trial date for July, while Trump’s attorneys have pushed for after the November election. Trump has sought to delay his trials until after the election in the hopes of potentially dropping the charges against him if he were to win back the presidency. The FBI has retrieved a total of 325 classified documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, with a fraction of those being taken during a search in August 2022.
Trump faces 40 federal felony charges relating to the mishandling of White House documents, amongst other criminal cases brought against him. Prosecutors allege Trump concealed documents and obstructed justice by refusing to turn them over, even when subpoenaed. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, labeling them as a “witch hunt.” Cannon’s handling of the case has received criticism, particularly her ruling to appoint a third-party special master to review seized documents. This move was ultimately overturned by an appeals court. With the trial facing further delays, the timeline for Trump’s trial remains uncertain, leaving many questions unanswered about when the trial will proceed.
