Donald Trump won an important victory – a judge in Florida postponed the case of secret documents. This decision makes it minimal likely that a U.S. Republican candidate will be tried before the presidential election, which will be held in November.
Federal Judge Eileen Cannon postponed the trial of Donald Trump indefinitely, citing the huge number of motions that need to be considered before the materials can be submitted to the jury. This is reported in a court order issued on May 7. Trump’s lawyers also insisted on postponing the trial date.
The case of secret documents is one of the four where Trump appears. He is accused of illegally storing secret documents on his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, as well as giving false testimony and obstructing the investigation.
The prosecution spokesman, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith believes that Trump has jeopardized U.S. national security by storing documents, including military plans or information about nuclear weapons, in his home, instead of transferring them to the National Archives in accordance with the requirements of the law. He is also accused of trying to destroy the evidence in the case. The most serious charge is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years. Trump pleaded not guilty to any of the 37 counts.
The trial was scheduled to begin on May 20, but the federal judge considered this date untenable due to the huge number of preliminary petitions filed with the court. Eileen Cannon, a justice of the peace appointed by the former president, did not set a new date.
This decision is a failure for Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and makes the trial in this case extremely unlikely before the November elections. It is likely that the ongoing trial in New York against Trump (about the money of porn actress Stormy Daniels) will be the only one that will end before the election in November.
The remaining criminal cases against Trump are in limbo.
In March 2024, the Supreme Court allowed Trump to run for the presidential election, despite accusations of participating in the January 6, 2021 rebellion (one of four cases). Trump easily won the Republican primaries, the last of his competitors, Nicky Haley, dropped out of the race in early March.
If Trump becomes President of the United States again, after his inauguration in January 2025, he may order the termination of two federal proceedings against him: this case of secret documents, which was investigated in Florida, as well as the case in the capital of Washington on charges of illegal attempts to cancel the results of the 2020 elections.
