By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Hearing on Trump’s document charges.
A Florida judge is holding a hearing to consider Donald Trump’s request to dismiss charges related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. District Judge Aileen Cannon is presiding over the session in Fort Pierce, Florida, where Trump and his co-defendant, Walt Nauta, have submitted motions to throw out the case.
Trump, who is campaigning to reclaim the presidency, pleaded not guilty in June to federal charges that include unlawfully retaining national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and making false statements. The indictment claims he stored classified documents from the Pentagon, CIA, and NSA at his Mar-a-Lago residence and obstructed efforts to retrieve them.
Wednesday’s hearing follows Cannon’s decision on May 7 to indefinitely delay Trump’s trial, initially set for this month. The delay, attributed to numerous pre-trial motions, represents a significant setback for special counsel Jack Smith, who brought the charges. The postponement makes it unlikely the case will proceed before the November presidential election.
Trump’s legal team aims to delay his multiple criminal cases until after the election, hoping that a potential victory could lead to the dismissal of federal charges. Alongside the Florida case, Trump is on trial in New York for falsifying business records and faces charges in Washington and Georgia for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results.
The motions heard on Wednesday are the latest in a series of unsuccessful attempts by Trump’s lawyers to have the charges dismissed.
charges, motions.
Hearing on Trump’s document charges