Live updates: Former President Trump is in Fort Pierce for hearing in documents case

Will Greenlee, Laurie K. Blandford, Colleen Wixon, Eric Hasert, Kaila Jones, Crystal Vander Weit, Melissa E. Holsman, Corey Arwood, Wicker Perlis and Nick Slater, Treasure Coast Newspapers

FORT PIERCE − Former President Donald Trump is expected to appear Friday at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse for a 10 a.m. hearing in his classified documents case.

The hearing is open to the public and media on a first-come, first-served basis. No electronic devices are allowed in the courthouse.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon is expected to discuss the May 20 trial date and pretrial preparations, which could delay scheduling the trial. She also may discuss disputes between lawyers related to proposed redactions to highly classified documents involved in the case, and other issues.

11:23 a.m.: Special-interest groups arriving

Michael Symonette (center), of Miami, arrived about 11 a.m. in a Rolls-Royce SUV. Wearing a “Blacks for Trump” T-shirt, he criticized Special Counsel Jack Smith, former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden and others. “I’m not scared to talk about them because they are the devil.”
Michael Symonette (center), of Miami, arrived about 11 a.m. in a Rolls-Royce SUV. Wearing a “Blacks for Trump” T-shirt, he criticized Special Counsel Jack Smith, former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden and others. “I’m not scared to talk about them because they are the devil.”

10:40 a.m.: Palm Beach County's motorcycle escort leaves Fort Pierce

10:10 a.m.: Federal hearing underway

Former President Trump in his motorcade, arrived at the back of the federal courthouse and entered the underground parking area. The morning part of the hearing is expected to be about requests to move the trial date later than May 20. The media and members of the public inside the courtroom and an overflow room cannot have electronic devices and cannot leave. If they do leave they cannot return.

9:55 a.m.: Scenes from around federal courthouse in Fort Pierce

9:31 a.m.: Trump arrives in Fort Pierce

TCPalm reporter Nick Slater said he saw Trump give the crowd a "thumbs-up" from the fourth car in the motorcade.

9:15 a.m.: GOP Congressman Brian Mast of Fort Pierce greets people

GOP U.S. Congressman Brian Mast of Fort Pierce meeting fans of former President Donald Trump ahead of a 10 a.m. hearing Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse.
GOP U.S. Congressman Brian Mast of Fort Pierce meeting fans of former President Donald Trump ahead of a 10 a.m. hearing Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse.

Brian Mast chatted with fans of Donald Trump.

9:01 a.m.: Views from the street of federal courthouse in Fort Pierce

The quiet before the arrival in Fort Pierce on U.S. 1 of former President Donald Trump. His hearing in this federal courthouse in his classified documents case is at 10 a.m.

8:55 a.m.: Law enforcement patrol Fort Pierce

Public safety officials set up a Multi-Agency command center.

The St. Lucie County Multi-Agency command center is set up just south of the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce.
The St. Lucie County Multi-Agency command center is set up just south of the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce.

8:50 a.m.: Trump supporters have a message in Fort Pierce

Marge Matthew (left) of Tradition community in Port St. Lucie and friend are at Orange Avenue and Fifth Street in Fort Pierce awaiting former President Trump to arrive for his hearing on the classified documents case in the federal courthouse. "I'm supporting Trump. I want $1.87 gas again. Drill, baby, drill. That's my motto."
Marge Matthew (left) of Tradition community in Port St. Lucie and friend are at Orange Avenue and Fifth Street in Fort Pierce awaiting former President Trump to arrive for his hearing on the classified documents case in the federal courthouse. "I'm supporting Trump. I want $1.87 gas again. Drill, baby, drill. That's my motto."
Supporters of former President Donald Trump organize early March 1, 2024 in front of the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce for his arrival for a 10 a.m. hearing in his classified documents case.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump organize early March 1, 2024 in front of the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce for his arrival for a 10 a.m. hearing in his classified documents case.

8:25 a.m.: Trump supporters organize around Fort Pierce courthouse

There are about 30 Trump supporters setting up around the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce for Trump's arrival for a 10 a.m. hearing in his classified documents case. Big flags are flying, loud music is playing and merchandise is for sale.

Supporters of former President Donald Trump organize early March 1, 2024 in front of the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce for his arrival for a 10 a.m. hearing in his classified documents case. There is a lot of merchandise for sale.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump organize early March 1, 2024 in front of the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce for his arrival for a 10 a.m. hearing in his classified documents case. There is a lot of merchandise for sale.

8:00 a.m.: Has Trump been to a hearing in Fort Pierce before?

Trump arrives at the federal courthouse for a classified documents sealed hearing in Fort Pierce on Monday, Feb, 12, 2024.
Trump arrives at the federal courthouse for a classified documents sealed hearing in Fort Pierce on Monday, Feb, 12, 2024.

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.

7:50 a.m.: What is Trump's classified documents case?

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon scheduled former President Donald Trump's classified documents criminal trial to begin Aug. 14 at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce at 101 N. U.S. 1. She has since rescheduled it to May 20-31, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon scheduled former President Donald Trump's classified documents criminal trial to begin Aug. 14 at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce at 101 N. U.S. 1. She has since rescheduled it to May 20-31, 2024.

Former President Donald Trump and his two codefendants, Walt Nauta, his valet and bodyguard, and Carlos de Oliveira, property manager at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate 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.

United States District Judge Aileen Cannon, of the Southern District of Florida, is pictured in this 2021 portrait.
United States District Judge Aileen Cannon, of the Southern District of Florida, is pictured in this 2021 portrait.

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.

Where is Fort Pierce, Florida?

Fort Pierce is a city within St. Lucie County, several miles north of Trump's famous Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm beach County. It's one of three counties that make up the Treasure Coast, with the others being Indian River County to the north and Martin County to the south.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Live Trump in Fort Pierce updates: In federal court for documents case

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