'Grand jury material': The battle over Mar-a-Lago docs evidence rages on
Raw StoryWhile Donald Trump's trial in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr.'s hush money case is moving along at a rapid pace, it appears unlikely that either of special counsel Jack Smith's federal cases against the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee will go to trial before the November election. Smith's election interference case is in limbo while the U.S. Supreme Court weighs Trump's absolute immunity claims, and the Mar-a-Lago documents trial has been repeatedly delayed by Judge Aileen Cannon. In an order issued on Monday, Cannon — a Trump appointee — wrote, "To the extent any non-parties to this proceeding have not yet had an opportunity to appear and be heard on the disclosure petition now transferred to this Court, the parties shall come prepared to discuss any additional procedures required." Trump's defense team, according to Kalmbacher, is not required to be present during the May 8 hearing — which, Cannon wrote, will address "specific grand jury material implicated in this proceeding in light of the Special Counsel's sealed status report."