Trump to be in Fort Pierce Friday for court hearing
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FORT PIERCE − Former President Donald Trump on Friday is expected to attend a court hearing in Fort Pierce in his federal case alleging the mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House.
The scheduling conference at the Alto Lee Adams, Sr., U.S. Courthouse, 101 S. U.S. 1, begins at 10 a.m., and in part it may determine whether Trump’s trial will still begin on May 20, as U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon has ordered.
Trump's appearance was confirmed Wednesday by Kenny Nail, a top local Republican party official.
Updates: Former President Trump is in Fort Pierce for hearing in documents case
Cannon on Tuesday issued an order outlining several issues to be discussed with Trump’s lawyers and federal prosecutors working for Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Cannon asked both sides to be prepared to discuss a flurry of defense motions filed last week that could impact when the trial begins.
She also told attorneys to “be mindful of the potential need to hold any portion of the hearing(s) in a facility suitable for the discussion of classified information and/or under complete or partial seal.”
Trump and his two codefendants, Walt Nauta, his valet and bodyguard, and Carlos de Oliveira, property manager at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, are criminally charged with mishandling federal documents uncovered on Aug. 8, 2022, at Mar-a-Lago.
All three have pleaded not guilty.
Trump faces 41 charges of keeping and hiding documents with classified markings at his Mar-a-Lago estate. More than 300 classified documents were recovered from Mar-a-Lago more than a year after Trump left the White House, most under subpoena in June 2022 or during the FBI search in August 2022.
Trump faces charges of willful retention of national defense information along with counts such as conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document, corruptly concealing a document and making false statements.
"The classified documents Trump stored in his boxes included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack," the indictment said. "The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods."
Kenny Nail, chairman of the St. Lucie County Republican executive committee, said he learned Trump will attend from “a very good source.”
“He will be here,” Nail said Wednesday. “I was told he should be arriving sometime around 8:30 a.m.”
Nail asked supporters to come out.
“We are encouraging all and any Trump supporters who can get out early in the morning, and, show our support for the President to bring our flags, our American flags, our Trump flags show, our support for our President and our future reelected president,” Nail said. “It's going to be a spirited crowd as usual.”
According to Fort Pierce police officials, on Friday there will be a heavy law enforcement presence in the area of the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse. Police said motorists should expect and be prepared for traffic delays on surrounding roadways and use alternate routes if possible.
It’s the second time Trump has been at the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce. On Feb. 12, he attended a hearing related to the charges of mishandling classified documents.
A crowd of about 200 people lined Fifth Street behind the courthouse ahead of the hearing before Cannon. Trump and his attorneys were at the courthouse to attend a “sealed” hearing to in part discuss with Cannon the classified documents involved in the case.
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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Trump to appear at Florida courthouse in classified documents case
