Trump's Doc Trial: Judge Cannon Sets as August 14, 2023, But Expect Numerous Delays by Trump

“They got me – I'm going to trial – po' wittle me”

(Next, my 3-D show: Duck, Dodge, & Delay)

Major update and breaking news from BUSINESS INSIDER with this headline – then the original post follows:

“Judge Cannon wants Trump's trial over his classified documents scandal to be wrapped up by September”

Main points from this update:

·   A district judge in FL wants Trump's classified documents trial to start August 14 

·   It would last two weeks, but the dates are likely to change 

·   Pre-trial motions are due at the end of July

·   The trial will occur in Fort Pierce and not in Miami 

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon today (Tuesday, June 20)  released a proposed timeline for former President Donald Trump's trial over his keeping of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago — setting an aggressive schedule of wrapping up the proceedings before September. 

Cannon, the Trump-appointed judge is presiding over the trial, released an order saying she expects the trial “to start August 14 or as soon thereafter as the case may be called and to last two weeks.” 

The Fort Pierce district where the case is being heard is known for its quick deliberations, though experts are skeptical about such a quick timeline given that both parties are likely to ask for delays so they can have enough time to prepare for the trial. 

Cannon asked the defense and prosecutors to file any pre-trial motions before July 24. The trial is set to be held at the courthouse in Fort Pierce — the same courthouse where Cannon, 42, typically works. 

Should the trial begin on August 14 or soon after, it could coincide with the first GOP debate, set for August 23. Trump, the clear frontrunner, hasn't pledged to participate that debate. Also, he has vowed not to drop out regardless of any legal deliberations.

My note on this announcement from Judge Cannon: She is trying to prove her honor to cover the past mistakes with this speedy trial ploy, knowing full and well it will be delayed, delayed, and delayed and then could say: “See I tried the speedy thing, but now we know that it all was fair, too, so don't blame me, I did my best.”

Now, the original article that was ready for posting before the above update and this is a fine article from THE HILL with this headline (edited and formatted to fit the blog):

“The perils to democracy of indicting — or not indicting — Donald J. Trump”

America is on the precipice of an unprecedented legal, constitutional, and political crisis with the federal indictment of Trump, who has now been charged with 37 felony counts, including 31 violations of the Espionage Act.

The potential for civil and political unrest is high, and there is a real risk that this indictment sets a dangerous precedent for our entire legal system whereby the DOJ becomes a perpetual political weapon used by nefarious actors in a sitting administration to prosecute former opponents.

That being said, given the severity of the alleged crimes, the thoroughness of the prosecution’s case and the volume of damning evidence, the greater threat to American democracy would have been if the DOJ had not prosecuted Trump.

Trump’s primary defense – that prior to leaving the White House, he declassified any papers he took – has also been undercut by a witness-provided tape in which Trump insisted: “As president, I could have declassified them, now I can’t.”

The tape also rebuts claims made by Trump allies that he was not aware that he had retained such highly sensitive government secrets — as Trump was reportedly recorded referencing Pentagon documents he had kept regarding an attack on Iran.

Trump’s former AG Bill Barr called the evidence “very damning, and the DOJ acted in a very patient way,” in the face of “egregious obstruction by Trump and those close to him.”

Famed lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who defended Trump during his second impeachment trial, wrote: “That it is the kind of evidence every defense lawyer dreads and every prosecutor dreams about.”

Trump and his enablers bear the sole blame for this tragedy — which they have gleefully used to rile up the MAGA base, all while America braces for a constitutional crisis and potential political violence.

Note these comments following Trump’s arraignment and indictment:

1. House Speaker McCarthy (R-CA) sent a fundraising email criticizing it as a “witch hunt” and imploring donors to “stand with Trump.”

2.  Kimberly Guilfoyle, fiancé of Trump Jr., posted a photo of the former president with the words: “Retribution is Coming.”

3. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) tweeted just before the indictment was released saying: “We have now reached the war phase. Eye for an eye.”

House Republicans have already launched politically-motivated investigations (Rep. Comer and Rep. Jim Jordan committees) into President Biden and his family in retaliation, leading to more gridlock and division in Congress and across the nation with less progress for the country on critical issues not their gamesmanship stunts.

Trump promised that if he wins in 2024:  “To weaponize the DOJ against President Biden and his family.”

Note this, too: McCarthy who rushed to Trump’s defense and amplify his false narrative about the political “weaponization of the Biden DOJ.”

So, I note that using the word “weaponize” against your political  opponents depends on who uses that word in order to get the most negative effective for Trump’s MAGA and get them all fired up with  more anti-government aggressive acts like January 6, I surmise.

Now, despite having said all, the real consequences for the country that will follow from Trump’s indictment could or would be much greater if the DOJ had chosen not to bring charges against him in the face of the critical evidence against him which is massive and astonishingly harmful to us and allies world-wide had it leaked.

Such leaks of any kind would have jeopardized our institutions irreparably, and sent a message to our allies and adversaries alike that the U.S. treats our leaders as if they are immune from the law, much like an autocracy.

Our rock solid judicial philosophy states: “No one is above the law.”

Certainly not someone like Trump, whose feckless yet deliberate disregard for the rule of law has endangered our national security and undermined the foundations of American democracy on several levels.

Sadly, all the legal cases pending against Trump suggests that the nation is in an era when many voters don’t care about scandal or public corruption allegations against elected officials or candidates for public office.

They simply give a preferred candidates the benefit of the doubt, if not blind loyalty, and that is more so with “conservative Republicans” for Trump than for than any other candidate” – why – it simply defies gravity itself.

Trump’s personality, political message, conning style, and defiance of anything good and decent gives him the ability to manage what would be “killer issues” for other candidates.

Even those who don’t like Trump, are against the legal actions aimed against him. Most of his rivals in the presidential contest, even as they criticized Trump’s fitness to be president again, have raised questions about the indictments against him. In short, Republicans are looking at this as an assault from the opposing party to destroy Trump’s his presidential campaign, whether you’re a Trump fan or not. If he were to win he would destroy the nation with a mission of revenge, which BTW: He has labeled 2024 as his “Revenge Tour.”

My 2 Cents: Trump must not be nominated by the GOP, period.

To do so shames that Party and jeopardizes the nation they say they love so much. Nominating him is in a word: Insane, since he has promised revenge and a vendetta if he gets back in the White House.

Thus, that must not happen.

Thanks for stopping by.