Former President Donald Trump is set to face trial on 37 federal felony counts on May 20, 2024, as declared by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday.
The trial date was confirmed after Donald Trump’s legal team, representing the Republican presidential candidate, requested a delay in the proceedings until after the 2024 election. On the other hand, prosecutors had sought an earlier trial, proposing December as a potential date.
The charges against Trump encompass 37 counts, including alleged willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and making false statements. He has pleaded not guilty to all these charges.
Judge Cannon’s compromise date places the trial close to another separate trial in New York, where Trump faces numerous state charges related to falsifying business records. Additionally, the trial date falls near the end of the GOP presidential primary calendar, making it highly likely that the primary winner will be known, although the official nomination at the Republican National Convention may still be pending at that time.
“The Court finds that the interests of justice served by this continuance outweigh the best interest of the public and Defendants in a speedy trial,” Cannon wrote.
In a recent interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to seeking the 2024 Republican nomination while defending his decision to retain classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
During the interview, preview clips revealed that Trump defended his reluctance to hand over the documents when questioned by Baier, who also pressed for more information about the indictment, with Trump directing criticism towards the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
“I had boxes. I want to go through the boxes and get my personal things out. I don’t want to hand that over to NARA yet. And I very was busy as you’ve sort of seen,” Trump said.
“Before I send boxes over, I have to take my things out,” he told Baier. “These boxes were interspersed with all sorts of things.”
Trump may potentially face further trials in the upcoming year. He revealed that he received a letter from Special Counsel Jack Smith, indicating that he is the target of a Jan. 6 grand jury investigation. Additionally, prosecutors in Georgia are set to make charging decisions in the next few weeks regarding an investigation into purported efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the election in the state.
Trump expressed his anticipation of potential arrest and indictment in connection with the Jan. 6 probe.
“Deranged Jack Smith, prosecutor with Joe Biden’s DOJ, sent a letter (again it was a Sunday night!) stating that I am the TARGET of the January 6th Grand Jury Investigation, and giving me a very short four days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an arrest an indictment,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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“So now, Joe Biden’s Attorney General, Merrick Garland, who I turned down for the United States Supreme Court (in retrospect, based on his corrupt and unethical actions, a very wise decision!), together with Joe Biden’s Department of Injustice, have effectively issued a third indictment and arrest of Joe Biden’s NUMBER ONE POLITICAL OPPONENT, who is largely dominating him in the race for the Presidency,” Trump said.
“Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before, or even close,” he said.
