WASHINGTON – Special prosecutor Jack Smith, in charge of the case of the classified documents found at the residence of former president Donald Trump, asked this Friday to delay the trial until December.
In a court document delivered late Friday, the US government requested the extension, arguing that the case “involves classified information, so the defense will need to obtain the required security clearances.”
On Tuesday, the lead judge in the case had ordered the jury trial to begin on August 14 in Fort Pierce, north of Miami.
Despite the closeness of the date, US media such as The Hill and Politico qualified that it was difficult for the trial to begin so soon since Trump’s defense will surely try to delay the process.
Some experts estimated that the trial could be delayed beyond the 2024 presidential election.
Trump was charged in the Miami courts with 37 federal criminal offenses for mishandling official documents.
Of the 37 charges, of which Trump has pleaded not guilty, 31 are for knowingly withholding documents related to the defense of the United States.
But he is also charged with obstructing justice and “corruptly” concealing documents or records.
Some of those crimes are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
