Former US President Donald Trump and his legal team have filed a request to postpone his trial on charges of illegally stashing classified documents until after the 2024 election. In a filing on Monday, they argued that the proposed trial date of 11 December would not provide them with sufficient time to prepare. They also raised concerns about finding an impartial jury due to the upcoming election. Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 counts during an arraignment in Miami last month. The Department of Justice has not yet commented on the filing.
Trial date postponement requested due to preparation challenges
In their filing, Trump’s lawyers described the case as “extraordinary” and emphasized the extensive amount of evidence that needs to be reviewed, which they believe warrants a delay. They argued that preparing for the trial before the November 2024 presidential election, in which Trump is a frontrunner for the Republican nomination, would be challenging. As a result, they requested that the federal court in Florida refrain from setting a new date for the criminal proceedings.
Legal team claims trial timing would result in miscarriage of justice
According to the document filed by one of Trump’s lawyers, Chris Kise, the government’s request to begin the trial within six months of the indictment is considered unreasonable and would undermine the pursuit of justice. They argued that such a timeline would create significant challenges in the jury selection process and limit the defendants’ ability to ensure a fair and impartial adjudication. The request will be reviewed and ruled upon by Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing the initial stages of the case.
Charges against Trump and his aide Walt Nauta
Donald Trump is facing 37 counts, including wilful retention of national defence information and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors allege that he unlawfully held classified files at his Mar-a-Lago estate and impeded the federal government’s attempts to recover them. The indictment states that Trump directed his aide, Walt Nauta, to move boxes of interest in the investigation from a storage room at the resort. Nauta, who was indicted alongside Trump, has denied six charges, including conspiracy and making false statements.
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