What’s next for Trump’s federal indictment after his arraignment?

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After Donald Trump was arraigned in federal court Tuesday for his first federal indictment, questions about the timing dominate the unprecedented 2024 election case that could put him back in the White House closer.

Then what’s next?

With the usual caveat that all of this hasn’t been done yet and no one really knows until it happens, the answer to that question might be a little mundane: Getting the co-defendant, Waltine Nauta, arraigned . Of note, even though Nauta appeared in court with Trump on Tuesday, he was not arraigned because he did not have an attorney admitted to the district of Florida where the case was prosecuted. The question arose before Tuesday whether Trump would have the right legal team, but it appears Nauta is not ready for prime time. His arraignment is set for June 27.

So we may have to wait to see how Judge Aileen Cannon begins to handle the case and, as we saw on Tuesday, it doesn’t look like the Trump appointee who wrongly ruled for his appointee in the previous trial on the matter had planned of rejection. An early sign to watch for is what kind of schedule Cannon lays out for moves and, of course, any trial dates he sets. Trumps New York state trial on charges of falsifying business records is set for March 2024.

I’m sure special counsel Jack Smith, who said few words in announcing the indictment but among them “speedy trial”, wants to try this case before then. In fact, on Tuesday’s Deadline: White House, Brandon Van Grack, a national security lawyer and former Justice Department prosecutor on special counsel Robert Muellers team, said the DOJ could bring this case by the end of the year.

I don’t doubt they can be all things equal. But they are not equal. Trump is a former president running for office, Cannon is a wildcard, and this national security case involves sensitive evidence that requires further litigation.

This is the type of evidence and related litigation that could set in motion an early stage of this case and provide a clue as to how it proceeds in general. That’s because we could see prosecutors trying to get the ball rolling on the sensitive issue of evidence by seeking a conference with Cannon on the subject. How he responds to the processing of this classified material may offer an idea of ​​how the shell handles the case in the future.

Meanwhile, without any real pre-trial restrictions on his movements, Trump is free to continue his presidential campaign, whose success could reduce the indictment on which he is about to be arraigned, as well as any additional federal charges. case to come. (Presidents cannot pardon state crimes.)

But for now, let’s keep an eye on the docket in United States v. Trump (and Nauta).

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