Judge Aileen Cannon Postpones Trump’s Documents Trial Indefinitely
Federal Judge Aileen Cannon postponed former President Donald Trump’s federal trial in Florida, where he has been charged with retaining classified documents after leaving the White House.
In a ruling on Tuesday, Cannon – a Trump appointee – said setting a trial date at this point would be “imprudent” because there are too many pretrial issues outstanding:
The Court also determines that finalization of a trial date at this juncture—before resolution of the myriad and interconnected pre-trial and [Classified Information Procedures Act] issues remaining and forthcoming—would be imprudent and inconsistent with the Court’s duty to fully and fairly consider the various pending pre-trial motions before the Court. critical CIPA issues, and additional pretrial and trial preparations necessary to present this case to a jury.’ The Court therefore vacates the current May 20, 2024, trial date (and associated calendar call), to be reset by separate order following resolution of the matters before the Court, consistent with Defendants’ right to due process and the public’s interest in the fair and efficient administration of justice.
Special Counsel Jack Smith alleges Trump willfully retained classified documents after leaving office and obstructed the federal government’s efforts to retrieve them. The former president has pleaded not guilty.
Cannon’s handling of the case has been heavily scrutinized. In September 2022, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Cannon “abused” her discretion when she ordered an independent review of the documents that were seized. Meanwhile, some legal analysts have slammed her for making “baffling” and “unhinged” decisions.
Trump insists he declassified the documents that were found during the execution of a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago in August 2022. However, leaked audio of Trump indicates he showed what he knew to be classified material to a writer in July 2021
“See, as president I could have declassified it,” Trump said. “Now I can’t, you know, but this is still a secret.”
