Indeed, much of the debate among legal experts revolves around whether a trial is possible before the November 2024 presidential election. Trump has led the campaign to return to the White House and is leading the field of candidates for the Republican presidential nomination.
Defense attorneys for Trump and his personal assistant, Walt Nauta, a co-defendant in the case, agree that the August trial date should be pushed back, but disagree on the proposed schedule for prosecution, according to government filings.
Trump’s lawyer declined to comment on the government’s proposal.
Last week, Trump Innocent For the historical charges: 31 counts of willful retention of national security information and six counts of obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors told Cannon that the case was uncomplicated by most measures, arguing that it “involves straightforward theories of liability and presents no new questions of fact or law.”
However, legal procedures surrounding the use of classified information in a criminal case require some delay, prosecutors said.
“The case involves classified information and will require defense counsel to obtain the necessary security clearances,” Assistant Special Counsel David Harbaugh and other attorneys wrote.
Cannon previously ordered defense attorneys to begin the process of obtaining security clearances by this week. However, as of Friday, Nauta did not have a formal attorney in the case.
Attorney Jay Pratt, a lawyer for Smith, said federal officials have pledged to “significantly expedite” the defense clearance process and will be able to issue interim clearances to attorneys within 24 to 48 hours of receiving the proper paperwork.
However, because some of the confidential information in the case is so sensitive, prosecutors will need full security clearances, which are expected to take 45 to 60 days to issue.
Prosecutors have proposed that Trump and Nauta file a motion to dismiss some or all of the charges in the case by July 31. .
