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"US Judge Sets May 2024 Trial for Donald Trump's Mishandling of Top Secret Documents Amid Divisive Election Campaign"

A US judge has ordered that the trial of former President Donald Trump, who is facing criminal charges for mishandling top-secret documents, will begin in May next year. This timing coincides with the peak of what is expected to be a divisive presidential election campaign.

US District Court Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, set the start date for May 20, 2024. Both prosecutors and Trump's defense attorneys had different preferences for when the trial should take place. Prosecutors wanted it to begin in December of this year, while Trump's defense team requested that it be held after the November 2024 election.

Judge Cannon explained that the May date was chosen to allow sufficient time for both sides to process an enormous amount of documentary evidence, which includes over 1.1 million pages. Additionally, there is a challenge in handling classified documents, which are at the core of the case.

At 77 years old, Trump is currently the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination. The trial will begin towards the end of the primary campaign for the party's candidate. While the trial won't prevent him from campaigning, Trump, as a criminal defendant, will be required to be present during the proceedings, which are expected to last for several weeks, if not months.

Last month, Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 criminal counts related to allegedly mishandling sensitive government secrets and attempting to prevent their return. The charges stem from his refusal to hand over government records when he left the White House in 2021.

According to the indictment by special counsel Jack Smith, Trump took hundreds of classified documents in cardboard boxes to his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. These files, which came from agencies like the Pentagon, CIA, and National Security Agency, were kept unsecured at Mar-a-Lago, a place known for hosting large social events, and were stored in various locations on the estate, including a ballroom, a bathroom, Trump's bedroom, and a storage room.

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