Donald Trump Just Had an Incredible Legal Week (Yes, Really)

Donald Trump has had what could be considered a successful week in his ongoing legal battles, despite being on trial in New York.

In the space of a few days, the former president has seen significant updates in his federal classified documents case and Georgia's case into alleged 2020 election interference, both of which could have their trials delayed beyond November's presidential election, for which Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee.

Tuesday, Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing the classified documents case, delayed the start of trial indefinitely while the courts settle other legal disputes and hearings related to the proceedings. The following day, a Georgia Court of Appeals announced it would consider an effort by the former president to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the state's sprawling election interference case over claims Willis had an improper relationship with a special prosecutor she hired to work on the case. Trump has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

The decisions mean that the "hush money" trial underway in New York could be the only one the former president is involved in before the 2024 election. Trump's federal trial related to the events that resulted in the January 6 attack on the Capitol is also facing significant delays amid a Supreme Court decision on an immunity-defense appeal.

The delay to the federal classified documents case is arguably the most beneficial to Trump. The former president has long faced accusations that he was seeking to use appeals and other tactics to postpone the trial until after November's election. If Trump wins the race, he could order the Department of Justice to dismiss the case once he takes office in January 2025.

Cannon, whom Trump nominated to the bench, has been highly criticized for her decision to delay the classified documents case.

"I'm not surprised, but I am disgusted," Norm Eisen, who served as a special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Trump's first impeachment, told Newsweek. "Whether she's doing it out of partiality for the former president or is just a lousy jurist, this latest blunder by Judge Cannon takes the cake."

"This case should have been tried to a verdict already and would have been if any normal judge had gotten it," he added.

Since the Georgia case is under state jurisdiction, rather than federal, even if he is reelected, Trump cannot order prosecutors to drop it or pardon himself if convicted of any of the charges.

If Trump wins the 2024 election and the Georgia case is not resolved, the state may find itself in the uncharted territory of trying to arrange a trial for a president-elect or sitting president.

Wednesday, the Georgia Court of Appeals said it would consider an appeal to have Willis disqualified from overseeing the election interference case over her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

The former president argued that the pair's relationship amounted to a conflict and that Willis should be removed

Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee previously ruled that Willis could remain the lead prosecutor despite her relationship with Wade having an "appearance of impropriety." McAfee said Willis could remain on the case if Wade removed himself, which he soon did.

No official date has been set for the Georgia trial, which also involves former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, Trump's former White House chief of staff. However, the appeal ruling is expected to delay the start of proceedings.

Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesperson, told Newsweek: "President Trump has established a commanding polling lead and Crooked Joe Biden is on the ropes. His Democrat Party allies are desperate, so they continue to try and push their ongoing Witch Hunts by abusing and misusing the power of their offices to interfere in the 2024 presidential election.

"President Trump and his legal team will continue to fight and crush the Biden Hoaxes all across the country and the American People will hold Crooked Joe and his comrades to account this Fall."

In New York, Trump is on trial after pleading not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to a $130,000 payment prosecutors say he arranged for his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep an alleged affair she had with Trump a secret in the run-up to the 2016 election.

The payment was listed in Trump's company records as Cohen's "legal fees," which prosecutors argue was a part of an illegal scheme to influence the election's results.

Thursday, Daniels continued testifying in the case.

Update 05/10/24, 4:03 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional comment from Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung.