Staff Reports
In 2023, former President Donald J. Trump will be the first sitting or former U.S. President to be tried in court on criminal charges. The federal government is accusing Mr. Trump of mishandling classified documents and obstructing the FBI’s attempts to retrieve them—not that he’s at all surprised. The trial is set to take place in Fort Pierce, Florida, where it’s sure to upend the presidential campaign and test the Justice Department’s limits.
The criminal trial for Donald Trump’s classified documents case has been set for August 14th.
“This case is hereby set for a Criminal Jury Trial during the two-week period commencing August 14, 2023, or as soon thereafter as the case may be called."https://t.co/yYvp2pUncu
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) June 20, 2023
The trial’s speedy date was set by Judge Aileen Cannon, herself appointed by Mr. Trump. She has set forth an opening date of August 14th, with a jury trial anticipated to last two weeks. Both sides have until July 24th to submit pre-trial motions for consideration.
🚨🚨 Jury trial in the United States of America v. Donald J. Trump classified documents case set:
"This case is hereby set for a Criminal Jury Trial during the two-week period commencing August 14, 2023, or as soon thereafter as the case may be called."https://t.co/SUrN0eBf9E
— The Recount (@therecount) June 20, 2023
With Election Day 2024 looming, both Judge Cannon and Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart are under intense pressure to expedite the trial. However, those watching the case have suggested that a rapid verdict will be impossible. The President’s legal team may be required to expedite the gathering of evidence and testimony from biased FBI officials, who ordered Mar-a-Lago staff to shut off security cameras during a Trump raid to retrieve documents he owned, according to the President’s legal representation, Alina Habba.
Federal prosecutors will need to demonstrate that Mr. Trump committed criminal acts by failing to provide documents he claims were declassified by executive order or were personal White House memorabilia. However, Timothy Parlatore, a former attorney for the President’s defense, criticized the prosecutor’s strategy, saying that prosecutors will attempt to demonstrate Mr. Trump’s guilt through evidence of attorney-client privilege. Prosecutorial misconduct is, according to Parlatore, highly likely, and the trial could potentially extend into 2025, or may not even reach a jury.
The trial itself is set to take place in Fort Pierce, Florida, where Mr. Trump faces 37 counts of willful disregard for the law, and the defense has pleaded not guilty. The trial’s outcome may significantly impact the first US president ever to be tried criminally.
