Trump Documents Case Slated for May 20, 2024

Facts

• On Friday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon scheduled the trial over former Pres. Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents after his presidency to take place starting May 20, 2024.¹
• Cannon rejected a request from Trump’s legal team to indefinitely delay the trial while Trump runs for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, but she also characterized prosecutors’ desire for a sooner trial as “atypically accelerated and inconsistent with ensuring a fair trial.”²
• The trial will take place toward the end of the Republican presidential primary season — more than two months after Super Tuesday, and a couple months ahead of the Republican National Convention.³
• As a result of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation, Trump in June was charged with 37 felony counts related to records the government retrieved from his Mar-a-Lago home. Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts.³
• In addition, Trump is facing legal troubles on other fronts. He's set to go on trial in Manhattan in March on charges he falsified business records, and he revealed Tuesday that he was informed he’s the target of a grand jury investigation into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.⁴

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²The Hill, ³CBS, and ⁴Reuters.

Narratives

• Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Daily Wire. Although it’s disappointing that a Trump-appointed judge didn’t agree with the Trump legal team’s request, at least the voters will probably have selected the Republican nominee before the start of the trial. There’s still a chance the trial could be further delayed, especially since a case involving a former president is so unique and will require many motions.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by New York Times. Cannon has rightfully rejected the Trump team’s ridiculous request to have the trial pushed until after the election. This spoils Trump’s lawyers’ plan of having this case go away by virtue of him winning the presidency. Meanwhile, this date works just fine for prosecutors.
• Republican narrative, as provided by Red State. Democrats’ weaponization of the US Dept. Justice is working to perfection, and Cannon is now complicit. Not only are indictments against Trump — who Democrats want to run against — improving his chances of winning the nomination, but this trial date means most primary voters won’t know his legal status when they go to the polls. Democrats have obtained their goal of maximum interference in the election.

Predictions