Former President Donald Trump has scored a major win in his legal battles as two of his four criminal trials may now be delayed until after the November election. A Georgia court has agreed to consider Trump’s appeal in his state election interference case, while a federal judge has indefinitely delayed Trump’s trial in his classified documents case. The trial in Georgia, which does not have an official start date, could potentially be pushed back until 2025, according to legal experts. The delay in these trials is seen as a significant victory for Trump, who is also facing a criminal hush money case in New York.
In the federal classified documents case, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon postponed the trial start date, originally set for May 20, to fully consider pre-trial motions and preparations related to the Classified Information Procedures Act. The earliest possible start date for the trial is now July 22. Meanwhile, in Georgia, the Appeals Court has agreed to consider Trump’s appeal of a lower court decision not to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from his election interference case, citing a conflict of interest due to her relationship with the lead prosecutor. Willis had requested the trial begin on August 5, just three months before the election.
The delays in these trials come after a contentious hearing in which Trump’s co-defendants called for Willis’ disqualification, alleging a conflict of interest due to her relationship with the lead prosecutor. While the judge ruled not to disqualify Willis, he ordered either Willis or the prosecutor to step down over the appearance of impropriety. Trump and his co-defendants appealed the decision, leading to the Georgia Appeals Court’s review. The case in Georgia, which includes 41 felony counts against Trump and his co-defendants, alleges an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Trump still faces charges in Georgia, including violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law, conspiracy to impersonate a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery, filing false documents, and making false statements. Despite pleading not guilty, the former president is facing multiple legal battles related to his actions during and after the 2020 election. In addition to the cases in Georgia, Trump is also awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on his bid for presidential immunity in a federal election interference case in D.C.
The delays in Trump’s trials are seen as a significant development in his legal battles, with experts suggesting that the Georgia trial may not start until 2025 at the earliest. The timing of these trials, particularly the one in Georgia, has been a source of debate among legal experts, with some arguing for a quicker start date and others predicting significant delays due to the politically polarizing nature of the case. As Trump continues to navigate his legal challenges, the potential delays in these trials could impact the outcome of the cases and potentially influence the 2024 presidential election.
