The federal criminal trial against Donald Trump for attempting to subvert the 2020 presidential election is likely to be delayed as the judge hinted that the March 4 trial date is unlikely to hold due to Trump's appeal on "presidential immunity" grounds. The judge barred substantive new motions while Trump's appeal is pending and suggested that the time elapsed during the appeal may not be counted against him. Critical trial-related deadlines have already passed, and potential jurors' reporting date is in jeopardy. Trump is also scheduled to go on trial in another case in Florida in May.
Samuel Miele, a former campaign fundraiser for Rep. George Santos of New York, has pleaded guilty in a federal criminal case. Miele was indicted on charges related to impersonating a top aide to ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while soliciting donations for Santos. This comes after Santos' former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty to campaign finance felonies. Santos himself is facing charges of fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements. The congressman fell under scrutiny in 2022 for lying about his background and has refused calls to resign.
Judge Aileen Cannon has decided to keep former President Donald Trump's trial on charges of mishandling classified documents scheduled for May 2024, despite Trump's requests to move the trial past the 2024 presidential election. The judge has adjusted some deadlines related to the use of classified material in the case but will revisit other deadlines, potentially including the trial date, in early March.
Special counsel Jack Smith is urging a federal judge to reinstate a gag order on Donald Trump, arguing that the former president has used a brief reprieve from the restrictions to pressure and attack witnesses. The filing describes Trump as an ongoing danger to witnesses in his forthcoming trial and highlights his influence on extremist followers. Prosecutors argue that Trump intentionally stokes the fury of his followers while maintaining distance from the consequences. The filing represents the starkest case yet painted by federal prosecutors that Trump poses an ongoing threat to witnesses, senior government officials, and the justice system as a whole.
The judge presiding over Donald Trump's federal criminal case expressed skepticism about delaying the trial beyond the 2024 election, but also seemed cool towards the Department of Justice's suggestion to start the trial in mid-December. The judge did not make a ruling during the hearing, but appeared dismissive of arguments that Trump would not receive a fair jury as a top presidential candidate. Trump faces 37 criminal counts related to mishandling classified documents, with the most serious charges carrying a maximum 20-year prison term. The hearing primarily focused on how the classified information in the case will be handled. Trump's attorneys argued for a trial delay, citing the need to review extensive evidence and the unusual circumstances of being prosecuted by the Biden administration, potentially his opponent in the 2024 election.
A federal judge in New York has agreed to unseal court records revealing the identities of the three people who helped Rep. George Santos make bond in his federal criminal case. Santos, who was indicted on 13 federal criminal counts including fraud, sought to keep the identities of the individuals confidential, arguing they could face threats if their names were publicly revealed. The House Ethics Committee is also seeking to learn the identities of the individuals as it investigates any possible violation of the House Gift Rule.
A Trump-appointed judge is back in the spotlight as he handles the federal criminal case against former President Donald Trump. The judge's appointment by Trump has raised concerns about potential bias, but legal experts say that judges are expected to be impartial regardless of who appointed them. The indictment against Trump has been a major development in ongoing legal proceedings against the former president.
