by Special counsel Jack Smith is opposing former President Donald Trump’s request to delay trial over his alleged mishandling of classified documents until after the 2024 election.
In a court filing Thursday, the special counsel’s legal team rejected the defendants’ argument that a fair trial could not be called before the presidential election.
Lawyers for Trump and co-defendant Walt Nauta had said in a filing earlier this week that starting the trial in December, the schedule sought by the special counsel, would be “unreasonable, revealing and … would result in judicial error. ”
Deputy Special Counsel David Harbach disputed that characterization Thursday, writing: «There is no legal or factual basis for proceeding in such an indeterminate and open manner, and Defendants provide none.»
Instead, he urged US District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, to set a trial date for December.
Prosecutors from Smith’s office requested last month that Trump’s criminal trial be delayed until December 11. Cannon had initially set a trial date of August 14.
Trump was indicted last month on seven criminal counts alleging he mishandled more than 100 classified documents that were discovered last year at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
The former president faces 37 counts tied to allegations that he willfully withheld national defense information, conspired to obstruct justice and made false statements. He has pleaded not guilty.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
