Updated Jun 20, 2023 - Politics & Policy

Judge sets August trial date for Trump documents case

Former President Trump speaks at his golf club

Former President Trump speaks at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A federal judge in Florida on Tuesday set a preliminary start date of Aug. 14 for the criminal trial of former President Trump in connection to his handling of classified documents.

Driving the news: Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential frontrunner, pleaded not guilty last week after facing a historic 37-count indictment.

  • Florida District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that all pre-trial motions should be filed by July 24.

Yes, but: The start date is unlikely to hold. Trump and his legal team are expected to push a flurry of motions and challenges in an attempt to delay the trial, Axios' Alex Thompson reports.

Zoom out: A federal judge in Florida ruled that Trump and his legal team cannot keep or publicly disclose any federal evidence in the case.

  • In an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier on Monday, Trump defended his decision to take boxes of documents with him when he left the White House, saying he "was very busy."
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