Former President's Trial Date: A "Major Setback" for DOJ Prosecutors

The former president's campaign described the rescheduled federal criminal trial for May 2024 as a significant setback for DOJ prosecutors. The trial date, initially slated for May 20, 2024, was determined by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on July 21. Both Special Counsel Jack Smith and Mr. Trump's legal team had sought extensions, prompting the judge's decision.

A Trump spokesperson eluded to Judge Cannon's decision was "a major setback to the DOJ's crusade to deny President Trump a fair legal process." "The President Trump and his legal team are able to continue fighting this pointless hoax thanks to the busy schedule.

"Crooked Joe Biden is trailing and is attempting to use the weaponized DOJ against his leading political rival—a despicable and un-American abuse of power. President Trump will retake the White House for the American people, and Crooked Joe will fail.

The trial's initial date was August of this year. However, the special counsel asked for a delay until December, and Mr. Trump asked for a delay until after the 2024 presidential election. The last date is an agreement between the two.

Judge Cannon noted in the order (pdf) that scheduling the trial for August would prevent both parties from having "reasonable time necessary for effective preparation."

The government's suggested timeline, according to the judge, is "atypically accelerated and inconsistent with ensuring a fair trial," despite the fact that she denied Mr. Trump's request to delay setting a trial schedule.

In the end, she concluded that a longer delay would be necessary to allow enough time for reviewing the discovery and to settle any pre-trial motions or issues arising from the need for security clearance.

In Fort Pierce, Florida, a federal court will host the two-week trial.

The documents trial's postponement gives Mr. Trump more time to prepare his defense, but it also means he will risk conviction while vying for the Republican presidential nomination.

But the good news is that, so far, that possibility has only served to increase the candidate's favorability among Republicans.

Since his first indictment in New York, Mr. Trump has risen in the polls and now enjoys a significant and consistent lead over the other candidates in the Republican primary.

He is currently polling at around 52.5 percent, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came in second place with 20.8 percent.

These figures haven't changed all that much in the recent months. However, with the first Republican primary debate set for Aug. 23, there might be a chance for additional candidates to emerge—if they meet the requirements.

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Candidates will need to sign a pledge to support the eventual nominee in order to be eligible to participate in the debates, which is one of the more contentious requirements the Republican National Committee has chosen.

Given his dislike for the debate's host network, Fox News, and his commanding lead in the polls, Mr. Trump told Reuters in June that he might skip the first primary debate in Milwaukee in favor of hosting an alternative event.

"Why would I give them the opportunity to speak? He questioned, "Why would I do that when I'm ahead of them by 50 and 60 points?

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