As his criminal trial continues in New Manhattan state court on charges that he falsified business records to conceal funds paid to hush porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, the Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures while walking with his lawyer Todd Blanche. York City, USA, May 6, 2024.
Brendan McDiarmid | Reuters
A federal judge on Tuesday indefinitely postponed former President Donald Trump's criminal secrets trial, according to a court filing.
Trump's trial on charges of knowingly retaining and concealing classified national security records from federal authorities was scheduled to begin on May 20 after he left the White House.
However, U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon said in a court order Tuesday that it would be “unwise” to set a trial date “at this time” when various pretrial issues have yet to be resolved.
Cannon raised concerns about how classified information will be handled in the former president's high-profile trial and that “additional pretrial and trial preparation will be required to present this case to a jury.” It pointed out.
Proceeding to the trial in May would be “contrary to the court's obligation to fully and fairly consider” these issues, she wrote.
“Accordingly, the court, consistent with the defendant's right to due process and the public's interest in a trial, vacates the current May 20, 2024 trial date (and associated calendar call) and concludes that the matter before the court shall be reset by another order after the resolution of the “fair and efficient administration of justice,'' Cannon ruled.
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