Donald Trump fights to postpone classified documents trial until after 2024 election
Former President Donald Trump is seeking to have his criminal trial in the classified documents case delayed until after the 2024 election.
Trump’s lawyers asked a federal judge on Monday night to postpone the trial indefinitely in the name of ‘American democracy’.
They argued in the filing that the trial, which is scheduled to start on December 11, should not start until sufficient time has been given ‘for a careful and complete review of the procedures that led to this indictment’.
‘This extraordinary case presents a serious challenge to both the fact and perception of our American democracy,’ wrote Trump’s lawyers.
‘The court now presides over a prosecution advanced by the administration of a sitting President against his chief political rival, himself a leading candidate for the presidency of the United States.’
Trump’s lawyers entered the filing a half-hour before the Tuesday midnight deadline.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing the case and was appointed by Trump while he was president, is faced with deciding whether to grant the request.
If Cannon decides to delay the trial, it could begin after the 2024 presidential election or at the end of the campaign season.
‘There is simply no question any trial of this action during the pendency of a presidential election will impact both the outcome of that election and, importantly, the ability of the defendants to obtain a fair trial,’ wrote Trump’s lawyers.
Trump in mid-June pleaded not guilty to 37 felony charges relating to his alleged mishandling of classified documents he took from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago residence. His loyal valet, Walt Nauta, pleaded not guilty last week to six counts around allegedly helping Trump to hide hiding classified documents.
On Tuesday, Trump suffered a setback in another legal case. The Justice Department in a reversal said it no longer believes that Trump should have immunity for derogatory remarks he made about his sexual assault accuser E Jean Carroll in 2019 while he was president.
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