Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have requested the Federal Judge Cannon, who is overseeing the classified document case, to indefinitely postpone the trial date. His trial date could be pushed back past the 2024 election, if the judge grants the motion. Trump remains the 2024 Republican primary frontrunner.
Arguing that the proceedings should not be set until “substantive motions” are resolved in the case, Trump’s lawyers wrote-
“This extraordinary case presents a serious challenge to both the fact and perception of our American democracy,” …“The court now presides over a prosecution advanced by the administration of a sitting president against his chief political rival, himself a leading candidate for the presidency of the United States,” …“Therefore, a measured consideration and timeline that allows for a careful and complete review of the procedures that led to this indictment and the unprecedented legal issues presented herein best serves the interests of the defendants and the public.”
-Former President Trumps’ Lawyers
Also arguing that Trump’s position as the “likely” GOP nominee, should be taken into consideration. They added-
“President Trump is running for president of the United States and is currently the likely Republican Party nominee,” …“This undertaking requires a tremendous amount of time and energy, and that effort will continue until the election on Nov. 5, 2024.”…“This schedule makes trial preparation with both of the defendants challenging. Such preparation requires significant planning and time,”…“There is simply no question any trial of this action, during the pendency of a presidential election will impact both the outcome of that election,” [they continued] “and, importantly, the ability of the defendants to obtain a fair trial.”
--Former President Trumps’ Lawyers
According to the New York Times, Trumps’ lawyers filing is in response to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s requested trial date of December 11 of this year, right at the start of the 2024 campaign trail. Judge Cannon had initially scheduled the case for August.
The filing seems a fair request, if taken at face value. It also gives Trump some breathing room to hit the campaign trail while his lawyers weed through all the necessary motions that have to be accomplished legally first. The judge could grant Trump’s request, though it will be likely to the ire of Biden’s DOJ. If a fair trial needs more time – it should be supported by both sides. Time will tell.
“He [Washington] has often declared to me that he considered our new constitution as an experiment on the practicability of republican government, and with what dose of liberty man could be trusted for his own good; that he was determined the experiment should have a fair trial, and would lose the last drop of his blood in support of it. And these declarations he repeated to me the oftener and the more pointedly.”
-Thomas Jefferson