The federal judge overseeing the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump has decided that the criminal trial will begin on May 20, 2024 in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Judge Aileen Cannon announced the timing of the trial in a document filed in federal court on Friday.
The trial date is a few months after the term special counsel Jack Smith had requested, but it is a blow to the former president, who wanted to delay court proceedings until after the presidential election.
Cannon’s announcement comes after federal prosecutors and defense attorneys argued for their preferred timelines at a hearing earlier this week in Fort Pierce.
Smith had requested a December 11 start date, while Trump’s team said the trial should be delayed until after the election.
Cannon, a Trump appointee, had initially scheduled the trial to begin on August 14.
In recent filings, special counsel prosecutors called for the case to proceed “expeditiously,” while Trump’s lawyers urged Cannon to postpone the trial until after Election Day 2024, arguing that the government’s requested December trial date would be “unreasonable” and “result in judicial error.”
Trump faces 37 counts tied to allegations that he willfully withheld national defense information, conspired to obstruct justice and made false statements. Walt Nauta, a former White House valet, faces six felony counts stemming from allegations that he helped the former president hide top-secret national security files from investigators after leaving the White House. Both Trump and Nauta have pleaded not guilty.
Trump has also pleaded not guilty in another criminal trial, which is scheduled to begin in March. He faces 34 felony counts in Manhattan on allegations that he falsified business records related to hush money payments before the 2016 presidential election.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
Katherine Doyle contributed.
