March 1 (UPI) — Former President Donald Trump is in the courtroom in Fort Pierce, Fla., Friday for a hearing in the classified documents case against him.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon may determine what classified information can be discussed before the jury when the case goes to trial. She may also announce changes to the May 20 trial date.
Special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecuting team has been discussing the schedule moving forward through the start of the hearing, CNN reported. Prosecutor Jay Bratt told Cannon that the defense agrees the trial can take place this summer.
Cannon pushed back a little, calling some parts of the schedule that the prosecution is proposing “unrealistic.” She added that Trump’s Manhattan hush money trial, starting March 25, will also factor into scheduling.
The prosecution proposed a new start date of July 8. The defense responded, saying holding the trial before the November election is “unfair.” However, they proposed Aug. 12 as a possible start date. They argued the prosecution’s July 8 start is not possible because of Trump’s Manhattan trial.
The prosecution gave clarity on a Department of Justice policy that discourages investigative actions taking place within 60 days of an election. According to Bratt, this does not apply to cases that have already been charged.
Trump arrived shortly before the hearing began at 10 a.m. EST. His appearance comes amid his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
A number of pretrial motions by both parties have sparred over evidence. Trump’s defense team has pushed for access to discovery materials, while the prosecution has pushed back.
The prosecution argued in a hearing last month that sharing some discovery materials with Trump would pose “significant and immediate risks of threats, intimidation and harassment” to potential witnesses.
Trump has also made several attempts to either delay or dismiss the trial.
