Federal judge indefinitely postpones hearing on Trump’s classified documents

(CNN) — Judge Eileen Cannon indefinitely postponed former President Donald Trump’s trial over classified documents in Florida, citing critical issues related to classified evidence that must be resolved before the federal criminal case can go to a jury.

In an order Tuesday, Canon canceled the May trial date and did not set a new date. While Trump was in criminal court Tuesday for his hush money trial in New York, Cannon’s move means there are currently no trial dates set for the other three criminal cases against him.

By indefinitely postponing the trial over Trump’s classified documents, Cannon’s order brings the criminal proceedings closer to the 2024 election… and potentially leaves it until later.

The judge’s new deadline lays out all the legal disputes Canon must resolve before the case can be heard by a jury. Canon said the process will last at least until the end of July this year.

Canon said in its order on Tuesday that there are eight concrete proposals pending on which it has yet to take a decision. He also reiterated that he believes the allegations of national security mismanagement in the case “present unique and difficult issues.”

Although all parties agreed that the case would not be ready to go before a jury in May, prosecutors insisted on a trial date in July, while Trump and his co-defendants pushed for trial dates in August and September. Proposed. However Trump’s lawyers have repeatedly claimed in court filings that a pre-election lawsuit would be “inappropriate”.

A delay in the new trial could also put Trump’s two federal cases into conflict.

In Washington, the former president is accused of alleged crimes committed during his presidency in a bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The case, also brought by special counsel Jack Smith’s team, comes while the Supreme Court takes up Trump’s lawsuits. Is thinking. Disease immunity. A decision is expected from the High Court in July.

In the Florida case, Trump is accused of mishandling classified documents and working with two co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, to obstruct the Justice Department’s investigation. All three declared themselves innocent.

Cannon said in his new stay order that he would hold a hearing on what was seen as an unprecedented request by Donald Trump for Biden administration records.

The hearing will begin on June 24 and is expected to last for three days.

Cannon’s move marks a major victory for the potential 2024 Republican presidential nominee. The proceedings will give Trump and his lawyers a platform to air baseless theories about impeachment, including allegations that it was politically motivated.

Smith’s lawyers have vehemently denied the allegations of political bias and contested the hearing as unnecessary and unfair.

Cannon also scheduled a hearing for June 21 on Trump’s claim that Smith was illegally appointed.

In his request for Biden administration records, Trump argues that he is entitled to a wide range of records from multiple federal agencies, including President Biden’s White House, because the former president claims those agencies effectively Is part of the impeachment team.

Smith’s office responded that Trump’s theories were “baseless”, that the discovery request was “frivolous” and that defense attorneys’ arguments fell far short of the high threshold for conducting this type of hearing process.

This article has been updated with additional information