Trump's Lawyers Claim Unfair Trial, Push for Delayed Start to Classified Documents Case

On Thursday, Donald Trump's legal team presented their argument to a U.S. judge, claiming that the former president cannot receive a fair trial this year on charges of mishandling classified documents after his departure from the White House. This plea comes as Trump engages in campaigning to regain the presidency. The U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith, the prosecutor in this case, requested a trial start date of July 8. However, Trump's lawyers proposed a trial commencement on August 12, 2024, asserting that a fair trial cannot be conducted this year in a manner consistent with the Constitution.

Judicial Consideration

The filings were submitted in anticipation of a court hearing scheduled for Friday, where U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon will weigh arguments regarding the trial's start date. Judge Cannon had previously postponed several pre-trial deadlines and expressed her intention to decide on the scheduled May 20 trial date after the hearing.

Legal Charges

Donald Trump, the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, has pleaded not guilty to 40 federal charges, including allegations of retaining sensitive national security documents at his Florida resort after leaving office in 2021. Additionally, he is accused of obstructing the U.S. government's efforts to recover these documents. His personal aide, Walt Nauta, and Mar-a-Lago property manager, Carlos de Oliveira, who are implicated in the same case, have also pleaded not guilty.

Multiple Legal Battles

Trump faces four criminal prosecutions in total, each of which he has endeavored to delay, contending that they are politically motivated attempts to undermine his electoral campaign. Aside from the mishandling of classified documents case, he is due to stand trial in a New York state court on March 25 for charges related to falsifying records to facilitate hush money payments to a porn star before the 2016 election.

Unresolved Trial Dates

The timing of the other three cases against Trump remains uncertain, raising questions about whether any of them will proceed to trial before the November election.