Former U.S. President Donald Trump appeared in a federal court in Florida seeking a delay for his criminal trial regarding mishandling classified documents.

Trump, a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, attended the hearing as his legal team argued for postponing the trial from May 20 to August 12, just before the November 5 presidential election. Federal prosecutors opposed the delay, proposing a trial start on July 8, close to the Republican nominating convention.

During the hearing, Trump’s lawyers emphasized that holding the trial before the election would be unfair to him, especially considering his presidential campaign. They expressed the belief that delaying the trial until after the election was essential.

Conversely, prosecutors dismissed the suggested August trial start as a ploy to interfere with other criminal cases involving Trump.

After the hearing, Trump supporters gathered outside the courthouse, chanting his name and displaying banners in support.

Trump’s legal maneuvers have led to delays in several cases against him, including a trial on federal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, which was indefinitely postponed pending a Supreme Court decision.

In the Florida case, Trump faces allegations of unlawfully retaining classified information after leaving office and misleading officials during attempts to recover them. These legal battles present both political and legal challenges for Trump, potentially impacting his chances in the upcoming presidential election.

However, Trump’s legal team continues to argue that he cannot receive a fair trial while actively campaigning for the presidency.

Despite the delays and legal hurdles, Trump remains a prominent figure in American politics, with a significant portion of Republican and independent voters closely watching his legal battles and their potential implications on his political future.