Trump team celebrates trial date for Mar-a-Lago documents case

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon's decision to schedule former President Donald Trump's trial for May of next year received a warm response from the Republican's team on Friday.

Cannon determined that the trial would start May 20, 2024. Trump faces 37 counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents and has pleaded not guilty. Special counsel Jack Smith, whom Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed last November, had hoped to begin proceedings much earlier.

A Trump campaign spokesperson told The Hill that the trial state signaled "a major setback to the DOJ’s crusade to deny President Trump a fair legal process." Smith had requested a December start date while the Trump team sought a delay to better prepare.

The "extensive schedule allows President Trump and his legal team to continue fighting this empty hoax," the spokesperson added.

A December start date, as Smith requested, could have resulted in a completed trial prior to the start of the Republican primary elections. The May date, however, places the trial well into the nominating process and potentially signals the jury may not reach a verdict until after many Republicans have cast their votes.

Trump currently stands as the clear front runner for the party nomination.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.