Breaking Tuesday, Former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Florida, where he faces charges of mishandling classified documents, has been postponed indefinitely. The trial, initially scheduled for later this month, has been delayed as the judge orders a new pretrial schedule for motions and discovery. The trial’s postponement likely means it will not take place before the 2024 presidential election in November.
Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, cited unresolved pretrial issues and critical concerns related to classified information as reasons for the delay. “Finalization of a trial date at this juncture would be imprudent and inconsistent with the Court’s duty to fully and fairly consider the various pending pre-trial motions,” Cannon stated in her order.
National Review reports that the decision to delay the trial follows a recent admission by special counsel Jack Smith’s team of prosecutors that evidence was rearranged after the FBI raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022. This admission raised concerns, as the government had previously assured the court that the evidence remained intact.
House Republicans have launched an investigation into the handling of evidence by Smith’s team, particularly the shuffling of documents. Smith is prosecuting Trump for allegedly mishandling classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after his presidency concluded. The charges stem from Trump’s refusal to hand over classified documents to the National Archives, as required by law.
The delay is the latest setback for Smith’s efforts to bring Trump to trial. Smith is also prosecuting Trump in Washington, D.C., for his alleged role in the January 6th, 2021 Capitol riot. Proceedings in D.C. are on hold pending a Supreme Court decision on Trump’s presidential immunity challenge.
