Former President Donald Trump’s trial on charges of withholding and concealing classified documents will begin on May 20 in Florida.
The case: Trump faces 37 counts, including over 30 violations of the Espionage Act, related to allegations of withholding national security documents.
* Trump is also charged with making false statements and conspiring to obstruct justice, along with aide Walt Nauta.
* Both Trump and Nauta have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Defense requests: Trump’s lawyers requested for the trial to be delayed until after the 2024 presidential election, citing Trump’s busy schedule and the legal complexity of the case.
* Defense lawyer Todd Blanche argued that Trump’s case was not “like any other” due to its massive volume of evidence of over a million pages and the client’s special status.
* However, this request for delay was contested by the prosecutors.
The prosecution’s stand: Prosecutors insisted on an early trial date and argued against any special treatment for Trump.
* Prosecutor David Harbach stated Trump is a private citizen indicted by a grand jury, thus, should not receive special consideration.
* He refuted the defense’s assertion that press coverage and publicity surrounding the trial was a reason for delay, describing the publicity surrounding Trump as “chronic and almost permanent.”
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