Former President Donald Trump has filed a motion for a long delay in the trial over his handling of classified documents on Monday, claiming that a trial at this time could result in a “miscarriage of justice” because the jury will not be “impartial.”
“This undertaking requires a tremendous amount of time and energy,” the attorneys representing Trump and his co-defendant, his aide Walt Nauta wrote in a 12-page motion requesting a delay after the Justice Department suggested its own proposal for the trial to begin Dec. 11.
Trump was indicted on 37 federal counts linked to the boxes of classified documents taken to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida after his presidency and his alleged efforts to prevent the government from retrieving them.
“This extraordinary case presents a serious challenge to both the fact and perception of our American democracy,” attorneys Christopher Kise and Todd Blanche, wrote. “The Court now presides over a prosecution advanced by the administration of a sitting president against his chief political rival, himself a leading candidate for the Presidency of the United States.”
In their motion, the attorneys argued there was “no reason” for an expedited trial, suggesting that any legal action before the 2024 presidential election would be “unreasonable.”
“President Trump is running for President of the United States and is currently the likely Republican Party nominee,” the filing reads. “This undertaking requires a tremendous amount of time and energy … This schedule makes trial preparation with both of the Defendants challenging.”
The lawyers also argued that it would be extraordinary difficult to sit an impartial jury during an election season due to Trump’s additional legal problems.
“Proceeding to trial during the pendency of a Presidential election cycle wherein opposing candidates are effectively (if not literally) directly adverse to one another in this action will create extraordinary challenges in the jury selection process and limit the Defendants’ ability to secure a fair and impartial adjudication,” the attorneys wrote.
Trump has denied the charges and has pleaded not guilty on all counts. He has regularly attacked special counsel Jack Smith’s inquiry as yet another “witch hunt” against him.
The next hearing in the case is set for Friday, July 14.
