Forget the upcoming election to the highest office in the land.  Or the potential problems with having a proven national security threat continually undermining the institutions of our nation.  Or the potential for ongoing violence by his fans who buy into his lies.  None of that is important, according to a new filing by Trump’s lawyers asking for a limitless continuance for his trial on the 37-count indictment for illegally possessing classified documents and then obstructing the efforts of the government to recover them.

This extraordinary case presents a serious challenge to both the fact and perception of our American democracy. The Court now presides over a prosecution advanced by the administration of a sitting President against his chief political rival, himself a leading candidate for the Presidency of the United States. Therefore, a measured consideration and timeline that allows for a careful and complete review of the procedures that led to this indictment and the unprecedented legal issues presented herein best serves the interests of the Defendants and the public. Thus, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A), based on the extraordinary nature of this action, there is most assuredly no reason for any expedited trial, and the ends of justice are best served by a continuance. …

Thus the Court should, respectfully, before establishing any trial date, allow time for development of further clarity as to the full nature and scope of the motions that will be filed, a better understanding of a realistic discovery and pre-trial timeline, and the completion of the security clearance process, such that the Defendants can be informed fully as to the involved evidence and thus be able to present more informed arguments as to the relevant legal issues. Moreover, Defendants expect that various key legal issues will be fully dispositive, thus negating the need for any trial.