August 14 trial date set in Trump classified documents case

Former President Donald Trump is slated to face an August trial in the federal case accusing him of hoarding national security documents, though it is highly unlikely the initial schedule will hold.

The 45th president pleaded not guilty on June 13 to a 37-count indictment accusing him of keeping a trove of top secret papers at his Mar-a-Lago resort after he’d left office, and then lying about it to federal investigators.

Florida federal judge Aileen Cannon –– who was appointed to the bench by Trump in 2020 –– set an Aug. 14 trial date on Tuesday, though that start date will likely be pushed back due to expected pre-trial litigation from Trump’s camp as well as the complexity of the case.

According to Cannon’s schedule, all pre-trial motions in the case are due July 24, with the next hearing set for Aug. 8.

The feds say that Trump had national security documents that weren’t declassified at his Palm Beach, Fla., estate and the criminal complaint against the 77-year-old references a July 2021 recording of him showing acquaintances a plan to launch a military strike against Iran. Trump denied that accusation Monday in an interview with Fox News.

Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith said he would push for a swift prosecution in the case, which already threatens to carry over into the heart of the 2024 presidential campaign.

In addition to the charges of willful retention of classified government records and obstruction of justice against Trump, his personal aide Walt Nauta is also accused of helping Trump hide the documents from his lawyers and from the FBI.

Trump also faces a criminal case in New York for falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about her claims she had an affair with Trump. He’s pleaded not guilty in that case as well — which is slated for trial in March 2024.

Trump is seeking to move Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case to federal court, which could potentially delay trial even further.

Trump attorney Todd Blanche declined to comment Tuesday.