Trump Seeks Delay of Docs Trial Until After Election
Facts
- In a motion filed Wednesday, lawyers for former US Pres. Donald Trump asked a judge to postpone his trial for allegedly mishandling classified documents until after the 2024 presidential election.1
- Among the reasons for requesting a delay to this trial — set to begin May 20, 2024 — is a separate trial related to the former president’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, which is scheduled to start March 5, 2024. Trump's attorneys argued that they and their client were being asked 'to be in two places at once.'2
- The attorneys also expressed difficulty in viewing classified documents in a timely manner during discovery because US District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled they can only be viewed at a separate facility rather than at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.2
- Special counsel Jack Smith’s office last week filed an objection to a prior delay request.3
- The government recovered 325 classified records at Mar-a-Lago during a 2022 search. Smith has charged Trump with willfully retaining 32 documents that featured national defense information.4
- Currently, Trump is the frontrunner to be the Republican nominee for the next presidential election, which is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2024.5
Sources: 1Associated Press, 2Forbes, 3CBS, 4Washington examiner and 5Daily Mail.
Narratives
- Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by National review. Smith’s overzealous charging of Trump has caused a time conflict that can’t be overcome without rescheduling because Trump and his attorneys can’t possibly be in two places at once. If Smith wants the documents case to be taken seriously, he should also provide the defense with the necessary materials and a facility to review them, or it’ll prove this case is just another part of the witch hunt against Trump.
- Anti-Trump, as provided by New york times. It’s not Smith’s problem that Trump is facing civil and criminal scrutiny in several jurisdictions at once. This request is part of a pattern of Trump trying to delay the justice system while hoping that he’ll be president by the time these trials are held. He thinks if he wins the White House, he’ll be able to avoid justice, so these cases must be heard in a timely manner.