Classified documents case: Trump's threat on being imprisoned in spotlight after release of trial date

The trial against former US president and Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago classified document case will take place in the thick of US presidential elections next year. The supposed trial may very well put Trump into prison, sections of US media have reported, following which Trump's purported threat about what may happen if he is imprisoned has attained centerstage.

In a statement on Friday (July 21), Trump said that the trial date is a "major setback" to the justice department's "crusade" against him.

The two-week trial would take place in Fort Pierce, Florida, judge Aileen Cannon said. The trial could begin as early as May 20, 2024. A pre-trial hearing in the case will be held on May 14 next year.

Mar-a-Lago trial date: What did Trump say on imprisonment question?

Former President Donald Trump while speaking on 'The Simon Conway Show', said that an imprisonment prospect is "very dangerous thing to even talk about".

"Because we do have a tremendously passionate group of voters. [They have] much more passion that they had in 2020 and much more passion than they had in 2016. I think it would be very dangerous," Trump said.

Mar-a-Lago classified documents case: Will Trump be imprisoned?

Trump's imprisonment is least likely. This is because for the prosecutors to secure a conviction, the jury's decision must be unanimous. Some of them were appointed by Donald Trump during his times in the White House and have shown conservative inclinations in their recent judgments.

The former president pleaded not guilty to over three doznefederal counts during an arraignment in Miami last month.

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