Federal prosecutors and Trump attorneys propose new trial dates in classified documents case

Attorneys for special counsel Jack Smith and former President Donald Trump proposed new trial dates Thursday for Trump's criminal trial on charges that he mishandled classified documents and national security secrets.

Federal prosecutors proposed a July 8 start date, while attorneys for Trump suggested he stand trial Aug. 12. Trump's proposed date was a surprise, because he and his attorneys have maintained that the trial should be held after the presidential election in November.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, had asked both sides to propose a schedule ahead of a hearing on the issue Friday in Fort Pierce, Florida. The case was initially scheduled to go to trial in May, but it has been expected that the original start date would be pushed back because of a number of outstanding legal issues that have yet to be decided by the court.

If Cannon were to agree to Trump's proposed date, the timing could conflict with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' trial plans for the Trump election interference case in Georgia. Her office is seeking an August trial date.

In their filing Thursday, Trump's attorneys said the schedule they laid out was out of respect to Cannon's request for a proposal from each side, but they made it clear that they believe the trial should be pushed back even further.

"As the leading candidate in the 2024 election, President Trump strongly asserts that a fair trial cannot be conducted this year in a manner consistent with the Constitution," his attorneys wrote, adding that there are some issues Trump wants dealt with sooner rather than later.

"President Trump seeks to timely vindicate important rights through these proceedings, including his motions to dismiss pursuant to