Trump's lawyers blame massive workload for request to delay classified documents case

Lawyers representing Donald Trump in his classified documents case blamed the workload in his other criminal trials for their request for Judge Aileen Cannon to push back deadlines.

They said Monday they need more time to meet deadlines since they are working on Trump's other upcoming trial regarding his alleged falsification of business records.

In a letter to Cannon, Trump's lawyers asked her to extend the deadline for some reply submissions until March 24 instead of the initial deadline of March 14.

Among the several reasons in the request is the time needed for the lawyers to prepare for the New York trial over the falsification of business records in relation to his alleged hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Onlookers suggested that the Trump team's filing had been encouraged by Cannon's "slow pace" so far.

"President Trump and counsel are currently preparing for a trial in New York, New York that is scheduled to begin on March 25, 2024, and the need to simultaneously devote attention to that case and this matter has been necessitated in part by the discovery violations and strategic scheduling demands of the Special Counsel's Office that have prejudiced President Trump in multiple respects," the letter read, according to Newsweek.

Also read: GOP aims to discredit 'sensational' Cassidy Hutchinson testimony with new Jan. 6 report

Speaking to Newsweek, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani said that Judge Cannon has not been "particularly aggressive in pushing this case forward."

"The parties are still engaged in disputes over discovery and the disclosure of witness names. Having to prepare for two trials is not the best argument in support of an extension, but Judge Cannon has appeared receptive to the defense's procedural tactics to delay the case, so I wouldn't be surprised if she granted the request," he said.