(Left) Former President Donald Trump speaks at the New York Young Republican Club Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on Dec. 9, 2023. (Right) Special Counsel Jack Smith in Washington on Aug. 1, 2023. (Michael M. Santiago, Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Published March 1, 2024
A judge on Friday heard arguments about trial deadlines in the case against former President Donald Trump in Florida and signaled she may reschedule the trial to occur several months later than originally planned.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who had set the trial to begin on May 20, said during a hearing in Fort Pierce that special counsel Jack Smith‘s proposal to reset the trial start date to July 8 was “unrealistic,” per a Lawfare reporter in the courtroom.
Cannon did not make any decisions Friday on scheduling or other items she was expected to weigh at the hearing and did not provide an indication of when she would issue a decision, Lawfare reported. However, a trial delay is expected after the judge extended key pretrial deadlines at the end of last year, which all but assured the May date would no longer be logistically possible.
Attorneys for Trump, the leading GOP presidential contender, reiterated their position ahead of Friday’s hearing that the trial should not occur until after the 2024 election.
“As the leading candidate in the 2024 election, President Trump strongly asserts that a fair trial cannot be conducted this year in a manner consistent with the Constitution, which affords President Trump a Sixth Amendment right to be present and to participate in these proceedings as well as, inter alia, a First Amendment right that he shares with the American people to engage in campaign speech,” the attorneys wrote.
During the hearing, however, Trump’s attorneys were reportedly pressed by prosecutors on providing a definitive trial timeline and responded that if Cannon could not push the trial until after the election, then their second proposal would be a trial start month of August of this year.
Smith has been aiming to proceed expeditiously with both this case and his criminal case against Trump in Washington, D.C.
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SOURCE: www.washingtonexaminer.com
RELATED: DEVELOPING: Judge Cannon Admonishes Special Counsel’s Prosecutor, Says Jack Smith’s Proposed July 8 Trial Date in Classified Docs Case “Unrealistic”
Published March 1, 2024
In a blow to Jack Smith, Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday said his proposed July 8 trial date in the classified documents case against Trump is “unrealistic.”
Hundreds of Trump supporters lined the streets of Fort Pierce, Florida to cheer President Trump on his way to court in his latest hearing of the Jack Smith lawfare case.
Round of applause for every one of those MAGA folks showing their support for Trump outside the courthouse in Fort Pierce pic.twitter.com/j2IORuagTw
— Chicago1Ray (@Chicago1Ray) March 1, 2024
Friday’s hearing in Florida was about possibly moving the classified documents trial back until late summer.
Special Counsel Jack Smith on Thursday proposed a new trial date for the classified documents case playing out in a federal court in Southern Florida.
The classified documents trial was scheduled to begin on May 20, however, Jack Smith asked for the trial to begin on July 8 in a court filing on Thursday.
This new proposed date of July 8 is the week before the RNC convention (more election interference).
President Trump on Thursday asked for the classified documents trial to begin on August 12.
Trump arrived at the courthouse shortly before 10 am ET. He was flanked by his attorneys and co-defendants. Jack Smith was also in court on Friday.
Judge Cannon on Friday didn’t set a new trial date but she said the special counsel’s early July proposed date is “unrealistic.”
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SOURCE: www.thegatewaypundit.com
RELATED: Following hearing, judge will weigh moving date of Trump’s classified docs trial
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 24: Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during an election night watch party at the State Fairgrounds on February 24, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina. Trump defeated Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in her home state as South Carolina held its primary today. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Published March 1, 2024
(WASHINGTON) — Attorneys for former President Donald Trump and special counsel Jack Smith argued Friday over moving the May 20 trial date in Trump’s federal classified documents case, but the judge in the hearing concluded the proceedings without making an immediate ruling or determination about the when trial will begin.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon heard arguments in a Florida courtroom over the trial date and other issues in the case, during a hearing that was attended by both Trump and Smith.
Jay Bratt of the the special counsel ‘s office told the judge that holding the trial before the November election would not violate Justice Department policy. Bratt pushed for a July start, saying that holding a trial within 60 days of an election would not violate the Justice Department’s typical aversion to bringing politically charged cases so close to an election.
Bratt told Judge Cannon a trial is permissible because the policy does not apply to already indicted matters.
“We are in full compliance with the Justice Department manual,” said Bratt.
“This case can be tried this summer,” Bratt said, accusing the defense of “trying to wring out of the court” endless hearings that do not need to be held.
Trump attorney Todd Blanche argued that it would be “unfair” to put Trump on trial for mishandling classified documents before the election.
“We very much continue to believe that a trial that takes place before the election is a mistake and should not happen,” Blanche said during the scheduling conference in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Blanche said the trial would take between four and five weeks, not including jury selection, and would be better suited to start after the country votes.
“There’s no reason this trial can’t start until late November,” Blanche said.
Smith, in a filing Thursday, proposed a new trial date of July 8, while Trump’s legal team is continuing to propose a trial date after the 2024 election — but said in their own filing that Aug. 12 could be an alternative if Cannon were to disagree with that proposal.
Trump watched Friday’s proceedings from a seat at the defense table, hunched forward with his hands clasped together on the table
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SOURCE: www.stillwaterradio.net
