Donald Trump is in federal court in Florida to request a delay in his criminal trial on charges of mishandling classified documents until the end of the U.S. presidential campaign.
His lawyers have asked for the trial to be pushed back from May 20 to August 12, which would have him in court in the weeks before the Nov. 5 presidential election. Federal prosecutors said the trial should start on July 8, just a week before the Republican nominating convention, where Trump is expected to be named his party’s standard bearer.
Trump has sought to delay all of his four criminal trials as he campaigns for the presidency. If he wins, he would be in a position to shut down this case and another brought under federal law. His lawyers also argue that a trial that takes place before the election is a mistake and should not happen.
Federal prosecutor Jay Bratt said the August trial start floated by Trump’s lawyers amounted to a “fake date” aimed at interfering with two other criminal cases that could go to trial during that time. A summer trial would not conflict with a U.S. Justice Department policy that bars prosecutors from bringing charges against political figures shortly before an election.
A trial on federal charges that Trump illegally sought to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden has been delayed indefinitely while the U.S. Supreme Court considers his argument that he should not be prosecuted for actions he took as president. Trump is trying to get the classified documents case dismissed on similar grounds.
(Reuters)
