The classified documents case brought against former President Donald Trump is slated to be heard during the middle of the 2024 presidential campaign.
According to the order unsealed by Judge Aileen Cannon on Tuesday morning, the trial is scheduled to begin on August 14 and is expected to last for two weeks. Judge Cannon will oversee the proceedings at the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida.
That court date may not hold, however, since Trump’s legal team is expected to push for motions. The start date may be delayed due to the motions filed by Trump’s legal team and the complexities associated with the Classified Information Procedures Act and the case law surrounding the Presidential Records Act.
Judge Aileen Cannon has set the preliminary trial date approximately two months after Trump’s arraignment in her Fort Pierce courtroom. The judge specified in the filing on Tuesday that all pre-trial motions must be submitted by July 24.
Last Tuesday, Trump entered a plea of not guilty to charges encompassing 37 counts, as outlined in an indictment by the Department of Justice. The indictment alleges that Trump violated the Espionage Act, obstructed justice by retaining classified records from his presidency, and failed to return them. Additionally, he faces charges related to document concealment and misleading investigators.
Special counsel Jack Smith has suggested that Trump’s trial could be completed within 21 days. However, Trump, known for employing successful delay tactics in numerous previous civil suits, has several options at his disposal to introduce time-consuming challenges in this case.
In an unprecedented move regarding a former president campaigning for election, a federal judge on Monday issued a protective order preventing former President Donald Trump from disclosing or sharing evidence obtained through discovery in the classified documents case.
“The Discovery Materials, along with any information derived therefrom, shall not be disclosed to the public or the news media, or disseminated on any news or social media platform, without prior notice to and consent of the United States or approval of the Court,” Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart said in the order.
The order applies to both Trump and his co-defendant, Walt Nauta, and prohibits them from disseminating any evidence provided to their lawyers during the discovery process. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart emphasized that the discovery materials, along with any derived information, should not be made public or shared on news or social media platforms without prior consent from the United States or approval from the court.
“Defendants shall only have access to Discovery Materials under the direct supervision of Defense Counsel or a member of Defense Counsel’s staff. Defendants shall not retain copies of Discovery Material,” the ruling said.
The order also prohibits Trump and Nauta from disclosing the government’s evidence to individuals not directly involved in the case, and failure to comply could result in criminal contempt charges.
Furthermore, the protective order limits Trump’s access to the material, stating that he can only view the discovery materials under the direct supervision of his defense counsel or a member of the counsel’s staff. Trump is not allowed to retain copies of the discovery material.
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Source: Becker News Rephrased By: InfoArmed