Former President Donald Trump is back in the spotlight as he faces a federal criminal case over his handling of classified documents. Today, Trump is scheduled to appear in a Florida courtroom where a judge will decide whether the trial proceeds in May or gets delayed.
The trial, which involves approximately 40 charges related to Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents, was initially set for May 20th. However, the judge overseeing the case, Trump appointee Judge Eileen Cannon, is likely to push back the trial date and has asked both the special counsel and Trump's legal team to discuss scheduling during today's hearing.
There is a significant disagreement between the special counsel, who wants to expedite the trial, and Trump's legal team, which seeks to delay it possibly until after the November election. Trump's lawyers argue that their client should not be in court while campaigning, citing it as a violation of his First Amendment rights.
If reelected, Trump could potentially influence the case's outcome through his attorney general. This adds to the incentive for him to delay the trial. The special counsel, on the other hand, is pushing for a quick start date, proposing July 8th as a possible option.
Amidst this legal battle, there is strategic maneuvering from both sides. Trump's team is open to the trial starting on August 12th, while also considering tactics to potentially prolong the proceedings to disrupt other scheduled trials.
Meanwhile, Trump is also set to face a state-level criminal trial on March 25th in Manhattan related to a hush money case. The district attorney, Alvin Bragg, has framed this case as one of election interference, adding another layer of legal challenges for the former president.
As the legal drama unfolds, all eyes are on Judge Eileen Cannon as she navigates the high-stakes decisions surrounding the timing and scheduling of Trump's federal criminal trial.
