(CNN) — A federal judge ordered Friday that the trial in the classified documents case that special counsel Jack Smith brought against former President Donald Trump begin in May 2024. A Trump adviser told CNN that, given the trial date is currently set for the middle of primary season, they anticipate they’ll be able to delay the trial beyond the 2024 presidential election. “Today’s order by Judge Cannon is a major setback to the DOJ’s crusade to deny President Trump a fair legal process. The extensive schedule allows President Trump and his legal team to continue fighting this empty hoax,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told CNN on Friday. CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to reflect that Cannon set the trial date to begin in a two-week period starting on May 20.

Source: CNN July 21, 2023 17:47 UTC