On Thursday, Donald Trump faced two significant legal setbacks as judges rejected his attempts to dismiss criminal charges related to his actions following the 2020 election and his retention of classified documents after leaving office. These legal challenges add to the array of legal entanglements Trump is confronting as he pursues the presidency once more.
In one case, Florida-based U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Trump’s argument that his possession of classified documents was permissible under a law allowing former presidents to retain personal records. Prosecutors argued that these documents pertained to sensitive military and intelligence matters, rendering Trump’s retention unauthorized.
In another setback, a Georgia judge denied Trump’s motion to dismiss criminal charges linked to election interference in the state. The judge ruled that the indictment alleged criminal activity, which is not protected by the First Amendment’s free speech rights.
Despite Trump’s assertions that these indictments are politically motivated, legal proceedings are advancing. Trump’s legal team plans to challenge these rulings, including claims of presidential immunity and selective prosecution.
Supreme Court
Furthermore, a Supreme Court hearing on Trump’s immunity claim in a federal case related to election overturning efforts is scheduled for later this month. However, trial dates for three out of the four criminal cases against Trump have been postponed, raising uncertainty about their resolution before the November election.
In the Florida case, Judge Cannon had initially expressed doubts about Trump’s defense but later instructed both parties to propose jury instructions based on the legal scenarios presented. Prosecutors argued against the relevance of Trump’s interpretation of the presidential records law, which Judge Cannon took into consideration.
Trump criticized Special Counsel Jack Smith for challenging Judge Cannon, whom he himself appointed, on social media. However, prosecutors maintain that Trump was not authorized to retain classified information after leaving office, regardless of his perception of the documents’ nature.
Previously, Judge Cannon rejected Trump’s attempt to dismiss the main charge against him, emphasizing that the violation of the Espionage Act regarding the willful retention of national security records was adequately defined.
