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Former President Trump has petitioned for his federal classified documents case in Florida to be deferred until after the 2024 election. This plea aligns with his ongoing strategy to delay criminal trials until a potential re-election.

Judge Aileen Cannon, presiding over the case, is poised to announce a scheduling decision soon, amid widespread anticipation of a departure from the initial May 20 trial commencement date.

Trump’s legal team has expressed concerns regarding the feasibility of a fair trial within the election year, stating, “As the leading candidate in the 2024 election, President Trump strongly asserts that a fair trial cannot be conducted this year in a manner consistent with the Constitution.” While suggesting a willingness to begin the trial on August 12, they maintain skepticism about achieving impartial proceedings in 2024. On the opposite side, Special Counsel Jack Smith, pushing for expediency, has proposed a July 8 trial start, without directly linking his urgency to the electoral timeline.

The stakes of the upcoming election are high, as a Trump presidential victory could potentially dissolve the prosecutions through self-pardon or Smith’s dismissal.

Trump, denying all allegations, faces 40 counts for mishandling classified documents and obstructing their governmental retrieval. Despite a previous denial from Cannon to postpone the May trial, a new scheduling conference was set for March 1 to reconsider the timeline amidst Trump’s multiple legal challenges. These include a New York hush money trial and various pretrial disputes over presidential immunity claims and the management of classified evidence.