Judge grants delay in hearing for classified documents case involving Donald Trump’s arrest.

Former President Donald Trump’s First Hearing in Criminal Case Set for July 18

According to a new court order, former President Donald Trump’s first hearing in his criminal case will take place on July 18. This hearing, presided over by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, will focus on the handling of classified information. It marks the beginning of what is likely to be a series of proceedings on this matter. Due to the sensitive nature of the classified materials involved, parts of the hearing may be obscured from the public.

Dispute Over Hearing Date

A dispute arose on Monday when special counsel Jack Smith suggested that Trump and his co-defendant, Walt Nauta, were attempting to delay the hearing unnecessarily by requesting a date change. Nauta had requested a delay, citing prior obligations of his main lawyer, Stanley Woodward, at a bench trial in Washington, D.C. this week. Smith questioned why Nauta’s Florida-based lawyer, Sasha Dadan, couldn’t handle the hearing instead.

In response, the trump-arrested-judge-approves-delay-on-classified-documents-case-hearing/" title="Judge grants delay in hearing for classified documents case involving Donald Trump’s arrest.”>special counsel team argued that an indefinite continuance would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest, urging for the case to proceed without further delay.

Agreement on July 18 as the First Appearance Date

Later on Monday, a subsequent filing was uploaded to the docket, revealing that both the Trump team and the special counsel team had agreed on July 18 as the date for the first appearance. Nauta expressed frustration over the short notice of the charges brought against him in the Southern District of Florida, which required him to have a lawyer licensed in the state. He also raised concerns about his defense team’s lack of security clearances.

Classified Information Procedures Act and Trial Proceedings

The July 18 hearing will address the guidelines outlined in the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA). These guidelines determine how sensitive materials involved in legal proceedings can be protected and how they can be revealed or discussed during a trial. As Trump’s case involves classified materials, the CIPA process may further delay the path to trial as prosecutors must find a way to use these materials as evidence without compromising their sensitive contents.

Trump’s Request to Delay Trial

Amid the conflicting filings regarding the CIPA hearing date, Trump has been seeking to postpone his actual trial until after the 2024 election. He argues that holding the trial beforehand would be unfair to his reelection prospects.

Last month, Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges related to the classified documents case, including 31 counts of willful retention of classified documents under the Espionage Act. Nauta, a former White House valet and current Trump aide, is facing six counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice, false statements, and withholding and concealing documents. He also pleaded not guilty to all the counts on Thursday.

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