In his case against former President Trump involving classified documents, Special Counsel Jack Smith has asked for a postponement. Smith has requested a four-month trial delay and has suggested December 11 as the new trial date.
Smith has argued in his request that Trump's attorneys will need security clearances in order to view the trial because it involves classified information. Since this will take time, a later time has been requested.
If Trump's attorneys completed the necessary forms, interim security clearances could be granted within 48 hours and are already being processed. However, it might take between 40 and 65 days to obtain particular clearances for specific documents.
Trump might appear in court just a few weeks before the official start of the 2024 presidential primary process if the trial is postponed. Although a specific date has not yet been determined, it is anticipated that the Iowa caucuses will occur in the middle of January.
Smith's request comes just over a week after U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon set the trial date for August 14, which was much earlier than anticipated.
According to the special counsel, he has spoken with Trump's lawyers and they don't have any issues with the postponed trial date. However, the legal counsel for the former president is anticipated to submit their own requests objecting to the government's preferred date.
According to the motion, "even with the prompt production the government has arranged, the inclusion of additional time for defence counsel to review and digest the discovery, to make their own decisions about any production to the government, and for the government to review the same, is reasonable and appropriate."
Former President Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the Presidential Records Act gave him the right to retain the documents. Additionally, he has criticized the prosecution for being politically motivated.
Smith has argued in his request that Trump's attorneys will need security clearances in order to view the trial because it involves classified information. Since this will take time, a later time has been requested.
If Trump's attorneys completed the necessary forms, interim security clearances could be granted within 48 hours and are already being processed. However, it might take between 40 and 65 days to obtain particular clearances for specific documents.
Trump might appear in court just a few weeks before the official start of the 2024 presidential primary process if the trial is postponed. Although a specific date has not yet been determined, it is anticipated that the Iowa caucuses will occur in the middle of January.
Smith's request comes just over a week after U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon set the trial date for August 14, which was much earlier than anticipated.
According to the special counsel, he has spoken with Trump's lawyers and they don't have any issues with the postponed trial date. However, the legal counsel for the former president is anticipated to submit their own requests objecting to the government's preferred date.
According to the motion, "even with the prompt production the government has arranged, the inclusion of additional time for defence counsel to review and digest the discovery, to make their own decisions about any production to the government, and for the government to review the same, is reasonable and appropriate."
Former President Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the Presidential Records Act gave him the right to retain the documents. Additionally, he has criticized the prosecution for being politically motivated.
