In the ongoing case against former President Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Judge Aileen Cannon issued a new order that may cause a delay in the proposed trial start date of July 8. The order requires Trump to reveal which files he plans to use in his defense by May 9, nearly seven weeks before the proposed trial date. This deadline raises doubts about whether the trial will begin in July, potentially leading to another delay in the case.
The order from Judge Cannon also requires Trump to file expert disclosures and defense notices based on classified discovery by the deadline. The Section 5(a) notice must detail both documentary exhibits and anticipated oral testimony and comply with rules regarding classified filings set out in the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA). The Justice Department declined to comment on the order, leaving the implications for the case uncertain.
Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith has brought 31 counts against Trump for allegedly keeping classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and accused the Justice Department of politically targeting him. Critics have suggested that Trump is seeking to delay both of his federal trials until after the upcoming election to potentially have charges dropped if he is reelected.
Critics have raised concerns about Judge Cannon’s handling of the case, accusing her of rulings that favor Trump and allow him to delay the trial start. Tensions between Cannon and Smith have also grown as Smith criticized the judge’s jury instructions, particularly regarding Trump’s legal right under the Presidential Records Act to declare documents as personal property after leaving office. This criticism has led to speculation that Smith may move for Cannon’s removal from the case.
Political investigations reporter Hugo Lowell highlighted the potential impact of Judge Cannon’s deadline order on the trial timeline. He pointed out that the deadline may make it unrealistic for the trial to begin in July as initially proposed by Smith. By not granting Trump the deadline he requested, the judge has created further uncertainty about the trial schedule and potential implications for the case moving forward. Newsweek is actively following developments in the case to provide updates on any new developments and their impact on the trial proceedings.
