Trump Asks to Postpone Docs Trial Until After 2024 Election

Facts

• Lawyers for former Pres. Donald Trump and his aide Walt Nauta filed a joint request Monday for a Florida federal court overseeing the classified documents case to postpone the trial date until after the 2024 presidential election.¹
• Trump’s lawyers say the proposed December 11 trial doesn’t give the defense reasonable time to prepare, and they argue that the polarization of the upcoming election poses a challenge in finding an impartial jury. The trial was already moved at the prosecutor's request from August to December.²
• The case is being tried under the Classified Information Procedures Act rules, which are designed to prevent the defense from leaking sensitive information at trial. However, its extensive rules create a longer path to trial.³
• In a 12-page filing, the defense also cited the complexity of the case and the “intersection” between the charges and the Presidential Records Act, which has “never been addressed by any court.” Judge Aileen Cannon has yet to render a decision on the request.⁴
• On Tuesday, Cannon moved a hearing from July 14 to July 18 at Nauta’s request — and over special counsel Jack Smith’s objection — since the defense counsel had to attend a bench hearing for another case on that date.⁵
• Trump last month pleaded not guilty to 37 charges relating to the retention of classified documents after he left office.⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²BBC News, ³Guardian, ⁴CNBC, ⁵ABC News, and ⁶POLITICO.

Narratives

• Anti-Trump narrative, as provided by Raw Story. Although Trump pretends he’s innocent, his tactic of delaying the trial shows he knows the evidence is stacked against him. That’s why he’s attempting a long-shot "Hail Mary" to delay the trial until after the election. Then he can pardon himself if he somehow returns to the White House.
• Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by One America. Trump’s lawyers are 100% correct to ask for a delay until after the election. These charges are a sham, and the fact that the US Dept. of Justice, which typically takes a while to bring a case to trial, is rushing this case indicates the administration is attempting to derail the campaign of the favorite for the GOP nomination.

Predictions