The former president's trial was scheduled for May 20, but Judge Aileen Cannon has postponed it with no new date due to pending legal issues. This comes after a series of recent developments, including the unsealing of FBI files related to the Mar-a-Lago raid.
Former President Donald Trump's trial stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into his retention of classified materials has been postponed indefinitely. Judge Aileen Cannon of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida announced the postponement on Tuesday, citing a myriad of pre-trial issues that need to be resolved.
The trial was originally scheduled to begin on May 20, but Cannon has vacated that date until the pending matters before the court are resolved. She expressed concern that proceeding with the trial without fully considering the outstanding pre-trial motions would be imprudent.
In her filing, Cannon listed several pre-trial deadlines to manage discovery and disclosure matters and adjudicate pre-trial motions. She has scheduled a series of hearings in May, June, and July to address these issues.
Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the alleged willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and false statements. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The postponement comes amidst ongoing legal battles in both the classified records case and Smith's investigation into election interference and Jan. 6. Trump is also facing charges out of that investigation but has pleaded not guilty to those as well.
Recently, Cannon unsealed a slew of documents related to the FBI's investigation into Trump and the raid on his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022. The documents provided a detailed timeline of the raid and revealed the involvement of key personnel.
Another unsealed FBI memo revealed that Attorney General Merrick Garland had authorized the investigation into Trump's mishandling of classified documents to be upgraded to a "full investigation."
In a court filing, Smith acknowledged that documents seized during the Mar-a-Lago raid are no longer in their original order and sequence. This has raised concerns about potential tampering or alteration of evidence, which is being investigated by House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan.
The indefinite postponement of Trump's classified records trial reflects the complex legal landscape surrounding the various investigations into his conduct. The Supreme Court is also considering arguments on presidential immunity, which could potentially affect Smith's ability to prosecute Trump in the Jan. 6 case.
The high court is expected to rule on the matter by mid-June, and its decision could have a significant impact on the ongoing legal battles involving Trump.
