U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has approved a request by former President Donald Trump’s legal team to extend the deadline for filing classified information in his case. This decision follows a similar extension granted to two of Trump’s co-defendants. The extension request, related to Section 5(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA), allows Trump more time to disclose sensitive materials intended for use in the trial.
Trump faces 40 federal charges for allegedly retaining classified materials after leaving office in January 2021 and obstructing efforts to retrieve them. Notably, past administrations, including those of Presidents Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, and Vice Presidents Biden and Mike Pence, have also been found to possess classified materials without facing similar charges.
The trial, initially set for May 20, may be delayed beyond the 2024 election as a new deadline for Trump’s CIPA-related documents has not been set. Judge Cannon’s recent filings have temporarily stayed the CIPA request and the presentation of expert witnesses by Trump’s legal team.
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The judge’s decision comes amid controversy over evidence tampering by prosecutors from a raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2023. Prosecutors admitted to altering the order of documents in some seized boxes, creating discrepancies between digital scans and physical contents. This revelation has raised concerns about the preservation of evidence and could impact the case’s outcome.
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Despite these developments, Judge Cannon has yet to rule on motions filed by Trump and his co-defendants seeking dismissal of charges related to classified documents. The admission of evidence tampering could potentially bolster arguments for dismissal on grounds of selective prosecution.
Overall, the case remains ongoing, with uncertainties surrounding trial dates and the impact of recent revelations on its proceedings.