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After Judge Postpones Trump’s Classified Documents Case, Experts Say Trial Is Unlikely To Start Before Election

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 3: Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in the courtroom with his lawyers for his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court on October 03, 2023 in New York City. Former President Trump may be forced to sell off his properties after Justice Arthur Engoron canceled his business certificates and ruled that he committed fraud for years while building his real estate empire after being sued by Attorney General Letitia James, who is seeking $250 million in damages. The trial will determine how much he and his companies will be penalized for the fraud. (Photo by Shannon Stapleton-Pool/Getty Images)

Judge Aileen Cannon has indefinitely postponed Donald Trump’s trial for mishandling of classified documents in Florida, citing issues around classified evidence that would need to be worked out before the case goes before a jury.

Earlier this month, Cannon canceled the May trial date and did not set a new one. Though the former president is on trial for his hush money case in New York City, Cannon’s decision means there are no trial dates for the other three criminal cases against him. Legal experts say none of these trials are likely to start before the November election.

The judge noted eight substantive pending motions she has yet to decide and reiterated that she believes the national security mishandling allegations in the case “present novel and difficult questions.”

Cannon said in her new scheduling order that she will hold a hearing on Trump’s request for records from President Joe Biden’s administration. The hearing will begin on June 24 and will last approximately three days.

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The decision is a win for the leading Republican presidential candidate, as the proceeding will give Trump and his legal team a platform to vocalize theories about the prosecution, including the claim that it is politically charged.

In the Florida case, the former president is charged with mishandling classified documents and working with two co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, to obstruct the Justice Department’s investigation. The three defendants have pleaded not guilty.