Special Counsel Jack Smith has encountered challenging developments in his legal proceedings against former President Donald Trump, and the situation has become increasingly arduous for him. According to CNN correspondent Paula Reid, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who presides over the Trump classified documents case, has conveyed an unsettling indication to Smith.
“Right now, Donald Trump is inside a Florida courtroom for a crucial hearing,” CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer said.
“It could decide when the criminal case over his handling of classified documents goes to trial. The judge is set to determine whether it will move forward as planned in May or be delayed. Trump’s lawyers now say they would accept the trial in August. That’s three months before Election Day here in the United States. CNN’s chief legal affairs correspondent, Paula Reid, is outside the courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida, for us. Paula, have you heard anything yet from inside the court?” Blitzer said before Reid began her report.
“Yes. Well, if we just got our first update, a handwritten note from inside the courthouse. We’re learning from our colleagues who are inside watching these proceedings that so far, the special counsel and Trump’s lawyers, they have been discussing this larger question of timing, such a consequential issue in this case, because we know the special counsel is keen to try this case as soon as possible,” she said.
“Trump’s lawyers want to delay it. Now, so far, the judge, Aileen Cannon, she has not signaled if she will definitely reschedule this trial or delay it. But she has given us some clues. Now, prosecutors apparently told her that they believe the one thing both parties agree on is that this can go this summer. Technically, that is true,” the reporter added.
“The special counsel said they’d like this to start on July 8th. Trump’s lawyers said that if it has to go, it could start on August 12th. But they also argue that their client should not be sitting in a federal courtroom when they believe he should be out campaigning. They believe this would be a violation of his First Amendment right,” said Reid.
“But in an ominous sign for prosecutors, we’re learning that Judge Cannon called some aspects of the government’s proposed schedule unrealistic, suggesting that she may delay this and may delay it further than the special counsel would like,” she said.
“But, Wolf, I want to talk about why I’m holding a handwritten note here right behind me in this federal courthouse. There is a proceeding of enormous national significance, questions about the former president allegedly mishandling classified documents and a judge. A federal judge is hearing arguments about when this trial will go, but the press is allowed to be in there and observe the proceedings. But they’re not allowed to transmit electronically as they are in most other courthouses. So we are relying on a team of reporters inside the courthouse right now, taking handwritten notes and then running down those stairs and across four lanes of traffic to bring us these updates. This is the first note we’ve gotten this morning, and hopefully, we’ll get some more notes soon,” she concluded.
The hearing for Smith and the Trump attorneys occurred several days subsequent to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to accept the case regarding presidential immunity. The ex-president has contended that he is immune from prosecution for actions carried out in his official capacity as President, while Smith has argued that the ex-President’s actions were beyond the scope of his presidential duties.
Initially, Smith had petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case without involving the appeals court, but the Supreme Court directed him to first seek resolution at the appeals court.
Following the Appeals Court’s ruling in favor of Smith, the Trump legal team lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court, which accepted the case and set a hearing date for April.
