The judge presiding over former US President Donald Trump’s case, for allegedly mishandling classified documents after leaving office, indefinitely postponed the start of his trial on Tuesday.
Trump had been scheduled to go on trial on May 20 but US District Judge Aileen Cannon said that was not possible because of the number of pre-trial motions before the court.
Cannon, a Trump appointee, did not set a new date for the start of the federal trial and it is unlikely to take place before the presidential election, which will take place in November.
Cannon said in a five-page order that it would be “imprudent” to set a new date.
Trump’s legal battles
Trump’s attorneys have sought to delay his various criminal cases until after the presidential election, when the 77-year-old could potentially have the federal charges against him dropped if he returns to the White House.
Trump is currently on trial in New York where he is accused of paying $130,000 in “hush money” to Stormy Daniels to remain silent about an affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election, an allegation the Republican candidate denies.
jsi/kb (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
