Judge Aileen Cannon has officially set the date for the Department of Justice’s classified documents trial against former President Donald Trump.
According to a new federal court document, preliminary trial proceedings are set to begin on Aug. 14 in Fort Peirce, Florida and all pre-trial motions are to be filed by July 24.
Trump has been charged with 37 counts of mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House.
The indictment alleges that Trump kept classified documents in various rooms including a ballroom, bathrooms, and showers at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach. The indictment also alleges that at least on two occasions, Trump showed classified documents to a friend.
The counts include one count of Conspiracy to obstruct justice, one count of withholding a document or record, one count of corruptly concealing a document or record, and one count of concealing a document in a federal investigation.
According to the report, Trump returned 15 boxes containing 197 documents on Jan. 17, 2022, after the National Archives demanded the records. On June 3, 2022, the DOJ alleges that Trump’s attorney’s then turned over 35 additional classified records.
On Aug. 8, 2022, federal officials issued a search warrant of Trump’s home and discovered 102 additional documents with classified markings.
The first 35 counts that Trump faces carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Jury selection for the trial will begin once the trial begins. The jurors will be randomly selected from a pool of registered voters living in the federal court district.