Legal analysts and former federal officials are signaling potential delays in the commencement of former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon recently rescheduled a critical meeting with prosecutors and a court hearing involving Trump lawyers’ document request.
Impact on Other Trump Cases and Scheduling Complications
The case, initially set for a quicker resolution, now faces possible postponements due to the complex legal landscape.
Brian Greer, a former CIA lawyer experienced in classified records cases, shared with The Daily Beast, “The tricky thing is, it puts them in limbo. Another judge could schedule something for May but may not want to because the trial may still go in May. If you’re a cynic—and I’m not—you might say she deliberately did this.”
Greer’s insights highlight the challenges in scheduling trials that intersect with other cases involving the former president.
Judicial Decisions and Trial Timing
Greer further speculated to Politico about Judge Cannon’s decisions potentially being a “stealth attempt to delay the ultimate trial date without actually announcing that.”
Considering the current schedule, he doubts the feasibility of a trial by the previously set date of May 20.
Views from Legal Experts
Brandon Van Grack, a former national security prosecutor with Robert Mueller’s team, told Politico, “The signals are of a court that is proceeding slowly and methodically through the process.”
He noted that meeting a May trial date would require pushing parties on a tighter deadline. David Aaron, another former Justice Department national security prosecutor, echoed this sentiment, deeming a May 20 trial unlikely, especially given the involvement of additional defendants.
Media Reports and Responses
Various media outlets, including Politico, have suggested that Judge Cannon might be intentionally slowing down the case, a claim yet to be addressed publicly by the parties involved. The case, involving a significant volume of potentially classified documents, has drawn extensive attention, partly due to Trump’s position as a leading GOP presidential candidate.
Timetable Considerations and Judicial Remarks
When discussing the case’s timetable, Greer expressed skepticism about the trial concluding before the Republican National Convention on July 15.
Judge Cannon herself has previously expressed doubts about the May 20 trial date, citing the challenge of accomplishing necessary work in a compressed period.
Complexities of Handling Classified Evidence
The large amount of classified and unclassified evidence further complicates the case’s proceedings. The Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) sets specific rules for handling such evidence, and this trial could be Judge Cannon’s first encounter with a CIPA-related case.
Defense’s Request for More Time
Trump’s legal team has requested additional time to review the extensive evidence, citing scheduling conflicts with other legal cases against the former president.
The special counsel team, led by Jack Smith, has opposed these requests, emphasizing the need to maintain the trial date.
Prosecutors’ Claims of Delay Tactics
Federal prosecutors have accused Trump of attempting to delay both the classified documents case and the Jan. 6 election cases. In recent court filings, they argued that Trump’s actions following a hearing in this case illustrate his interest in delaying the trials.
