Donald Trump is headed to Fort Pierce, Florida for his federal trial set to begin on August 14th. The former President is facing charges of illegally obtaining classified documents when he left the White House in January 2021. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump in 2020, is presiding over the case in her courtroom at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. United States Courthouse at U.S. 1 and Orange Avenue.
Trump's trial for the 37 criminal counts of which he is accused will be the first federal trial in nearly four years for the businessman/ politician, who is now running as a presidential candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination.
The indictment alleges that Trump issued orders to his top aides to take hundreds of documents on national security classified information on a "basis outside the authority of the executive branch", when he left the White House in January 2021. The documents include top-secret military intelligence, a wiretap directive, and plans for covert actions.
Cannon is one of seven judges at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and she was assigned to preside over the case by a computerized system. Cannon, who lives in Vero Beach, assigned the trial to take place in her Fort Pierce courtroom instead of Miami, where Trump was indicted earlier this month.
Trump pled not guilty to the charges, and his lawyers have said that they "look forward to defending the President" against what they describe as "baseless allegations".
The trial has been scheduled for two weeks, although it could end sooner or even be extended. It will be the first in a series of federal trials for the former president, who is facing a spate of other charges related to his conduct in office.
The trial in Fort Pierce will be one of the most closely watched events in US politics. It will serve as a major test for Trump and his supporters, as well as for the state of the Trump presidency since his departure from office. The political implications of the trial could have a far-reaching impact on the former president's reputation, as well as the Republican party. There's a lot at stake for all parties involved, and the weight of the situation is not lost on anyone.
It remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond to the case, but it is likely that the current White House will be paying close attention. Meanwhile, the citizens of Fort Pierce can only wait to see what the trial holds in store.