©Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during an event following his indictment of classified documents, at the Trump National Golf Club, in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/ Photo files
By Andrew Goudsward
FORT PIERCE, Florida (Reuters) – Donald Trump’s lawyers told a U.S. judge on Thursday that he believes he cannot get a fair trial this year on charges that he mishandled classified documents after leaving the White House, while he campaigns to try to regain the presidency.
“President Trump strongly asserts that a fair trial cannot be conducted this year in a manner consistent with the Constitution,” the first page of the document reads. On the seventh page, Trump’s lawyers go on to suggest that the trial begin on August 12, 2024.
A lawyer for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the discrepancy.
U.S. Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, who is prosecuting the case, asked for the trial to begin July 8.
This came in a legal filing ahead of a court hearing Friday in which U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon plans to consider arguments about when to begin the trial, one of four criminal cases facing the frontrunner for nomination Republican presidential election.
Cannon previously pushed back several pre-trial deadlines, but said he would wait until Friday to consider moving the trial scheduled for May 20.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 40 federal charges accusing him of storing sensitive national security documents at his Florida resort after leaving office in 2021 and obstructing the U.S. government’s efforts to recover them.
Trump is charged along with his personal aide Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira, a real estate manager at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Trump has repeatedly sought to delay all four criminal cases against him, which he says are part of a politically motivated effort to damage his campaign.
Trump will face trial in New York state court starting March 25 on charges that he falsified documents to hush money to a porn star before the 2016 election. The timing of the other three cases remains uncertain and is not It is unclear whether anyone will be prosecuted before the November elections.