Trump's classified documents trial postponed indefinitely: Judge's ruling has huge implications on if ex-president avoids trial before the election

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump's trial date for his classified documents case would be postponed, citing ongoing issues with the case.

Trump-appointed District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that the trial would be postponed indefinitely in order to resolve significant pre-trial issues.  

Cannon wrote that scheduling a date for the case would 'be imprudent and inconsistent with the Court’s duty to fully and fairly consider the various pending pre-trial motions before the Court, critical CIPA issues, and additional pretrial and trial preparations necessary to present this case to a jury.' 

Donald Trump's federal classified documents case in Florida was postponed 'indefinitely' on a day of dramatic testimony by Stormy Daniels in a New York courtroom

The trial was initially scheduled for May 20th.

The case surrounding Trump's possession of classified documents is considered by legal experts the most significant legal case surrounding the election, as prosecutors accuse him of illegally possessing the documents found in a Justice Department raid at his home at Mar-a-Lago.

The Justice Department charged Trump with 37 felonies, including the willful retention of classified documents and obstruction of justice and false statements from allegedly trying to impede the investigation.

Trump plead not guilty after he was indicted by the federal government

Special counsel Jack Smith did not immediately reply to the news.

The timing of the ruling further raises doubts whether the case will go to trial before the 2024 election. 

The ruling came down after a dramatic day of testimony in the Stormy Daniels 'hush money' case in New York. 

Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, had set a May trial date

Trump designated the material as 'personal' when he was still in office before it was shipped to Florida, according to the filing

Trump's classified documents case could be stalled through the election

Trump's legal team has had success slow-walking other trials, and Judge Cannon's ruling raises the possibility the Stormy Daniels case is the only one that goes to trial before November.

The Supreme Court decided to step in to weigh Trump's claims of immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken while president, which stalled his January 6 case in Washington, D.C.

His Georgia election interference case hit a snag after revelations of an affair between Fulton County DA Fani Willis and her former top prosecutor Nathan Wade.