Key Developments in Trump Cases: What's Happening Today

Two important hearings are scheduled for Friday, one in Georgia and the other in Florida, which could have a big impact on former President Donald Trump and the criminal charges he is currently facing related to the 2020 election and retaining classified information after his presidency.

In Georgia, Trump and his co-defendants will be presenting their final arguments in an attempt to have Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis removed from the case. Meanwhile, in Florida, a federal judge may decide to postpone Trump's trial date for the classified documents case.

Here’s what to watch in each.

Classified documents hearing

US District Judge Aileen Cannon has asked both parties to discuss scheduling in the Mar-a-Lago documents case. Trump's attorneys want a hearing to request more information from federal agencies and Joe Biden's White House.

Special Counsel Jack Smith and Trump's lawyers suggested delaying the trial to later in the summer. Smith proposed July 8, 2024, as the trial date for Trump and his co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliviera.

The attorneys for the three defendants suggested starting the trial for Trump and De Oliviera on August 12, 2024, and Nauta's trial on September 9, 2024. The Trump discovery strategy, if it works, might delay the trial even more, allowing the ex-president to talk more about his beliefs of bias in the prosecution.

Trump's main legal tactic has been to delay proceedings, which includes pitting his different cases against each other.

During Friday's hearing for the documents case at 10 a.m. ET, Cannon instructed both parties to be prepared to address various legal matters. This includes discussing whether names of witnesses, FBI agents, and other individuals involved in the initial investigation should be kept confidential in the filings submitted by Trump's team.

The upcoming hearing will probably discuss how the Justice Department is working to stop witness harassment and intimidation, which has been a recurring problem in cases involving Trump. This includes efforts to safeguard the jury selection process.

Smith has brought attention to numerous threats directed at people involved in the documents case. This includes witnesses, government workers, an FBI agent from the Mar-a-Lago search, and two federal judges, one of whom is Cannon.

Trump wanted access to White House records under Biden, such as those from the National Security Council and the White House Counsel’s Office. He requested documents and exhibits that could identify witnesses, government employees, agents, and others involved in the case.

Prosecutors have requested that names and other information, including details from grand jury investigations, be redacted or sealed.

Trump, along with his two co-defendants - Nauta, an aide to Trump, and De Oliveira, a Mar-a-Lago property staffer, have all entered a plea of not guilty in the case. Trump is facing charges related to willful retention of national defense information and obstruction, while Nauta and De Oliveira are charged with obstruction as well.

Fani Willis, the prosecutor overseeing the case, is currently presiding over the hearings related to the charges against Trump and his co-defendants.

Defense attorneys in Fulton County will present their closing arguments to support Willis' dismissal from the election interference case against Trump and his alleged co-conspirators. The hearing at 1:00 p.m. ET before Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee will mark the end of the defense attorneys' extensive presentation. They will argue that the allegations regarding Willis' romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade pose a conflict of interest, warranting her removal from prosecuting the case.

Defense attorneys have attempted to present witnesses and evidence in three recent hearings to support their claims against Willis. They allege that she financially benefited from their relationship, which they believe started before she hired him in late 2021.

Trump's attorneys and his supporters are expected to argue that Wade and Willis provided false information under oath regarding the timeline of their relationship. They may point to Wade's cell phone data, which they claim shows multiple visits to the location where Willis lived at the time, including some late-night visits, before they claim their relationship officially began.

McAfee has agreed to allow a report from the private investigator working with Trump's attorneys to be used in Friday's hearing. The investigator, Charles Mittelstadt, compiled a report detailing all interactions, including calls and text messages, between Wade and Willis. The report reveals that there were over 2000 voice calls between the two before they claim their relationship began.

Defense attorneys have been busy with court filings and in-court hearings, claiming that Willis initiated a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade before selecting him to lead the investigation. They also allege that the two went on luxury vacations in California, Belize, and the Caribbean, partially funded by taxpayer money earned by Wade on the case.

Willis revealed during her emotional testimony that she reimbursed Wade with cash for the trips they went on together. Both Willis and Wade stated that their relationship began in early 2022, shortly after Wade was appointed as special prosecutor.

Defense attorneys had high hopes for Terrence Bradley, Wade's ex-law partner and divorce attorney, who was expected to be their star witness. However, during his recent testimony, Bradley repeatedly claimed he could not remember when Willis and Wade's relationship first began.

Bradley informed defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant in text messages shared with CNN that the relationship started before Wade was appointed as special prosecutor. This raised doubts about Bradley's credibility and the extent to which Merchant relied on his unverified claims.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming hearings in Georgia and Florida hold significant implications for Donald Trump's legal battles. The Fulton County hearing will determine whether District Attorney Fani Willis will be removed from the election interference case, while the Florida hearing could potentially postpone Trump's trial date in the classified documents case.

These hearings highlight the complex and ongoing legal challenges facing Trump. The allegations of bias against Willis and Trump's attempts to delay the documents trial demonstrate the contentious nature of the cases against him. The outcome of these hearings could have a substantial impact on Trump's political future and the prosecution of his alleged crimes.