Donald Trump’s criminal trial for allegedly mishandling classified documents has been postponed indefinitely

Judge Aileen Cannon has indefinitely postponed the trial of former President Donald Trump regarding classified documents in Florida. This delay is due to significant issues surrounding classified evidence that need to be resolved before the federal criminal case can proceed to a jury trial.

In her order issued on Tuesday, Cannon canceled the trial date set for May and did not set a new date. This means that currently, there are no trial dates scheduled for the other three criminal cases against Trump.

The indefinite postponement of the classified documents trial by Cannon's order could potentially push the trial closer to the 2024 election or even beyond.

The new schedule outlined by the judge includes various legal disputes that must be resolved before the case can proceed to trial. Cannon indicated that this process would take at least until late July of this year.

Cannon's order highlighted that there are eight substantive pending motions that she has yet to decide on. She also emphasized that the national security mishandling allegations in the case present "novel and difficult questions."

While all parties agreed that the case would not be ready for trial in May, prosecutors advocated for a July trial date, while Trump and his co-defendants proposed dates in August and September. Trump's attorneys have consistently argued in court filings that a pre-election trial would be unfair.

The further delay in the trial could potentially lead to a clash between Trump's two federal cases. In Washington, DC, Trump faces charges related to alleged crimes committed during his presidency to overturn the 2020 election results. This case, brought by special counsel Jack Smith's team, has been paused while the Supreme Court considers Trump's claims of broad immunity. A decision from the Supreme Court is expected by July.

In the Florida case, Trump is charged with mishandling classified documents and obstructing the Justice Department's investigation with the help of two co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. All three have pleaded not guilty.

Cannon's new scheduling order also includes a hearing on Trump's request for records from the Biden administration, which had previously been considered unlikely. This hearing is set to begin on June 24 and is scheduled to last three days.

Cannon's decision to postpone the trial is seen as a significant victory for Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee for 2024. The trial will provide Trump and his legal team with a platform to raise unfounded theories about the prosecution, including claims of political bias. Smith's attorneys have strongly denied allegations of political bias and have opposed holding the hearing, arguing that it is unnecessary and unwarranted.