Live: Former President Trump is in Fort Pierce for hearing in classified documents case
FORT PIERCE −Former President Donald Trump is in a court hearing Thursday in Fort Pierce in his federal case alleging the mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House.
The hearing at the Alto Lee Adams, Sr., U.S. Courthouse, 101 S. U.S. 1, begins at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, when Trump’s attorneys are scheduled to argue the criminal case should be thrown out.
Trump’s presence Thursday isn’t required, but attorneys indicated he and co-defendants Walt Nauta, his valet and bodyguard, and Carlos de Oliveira, property manager at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, would participate in the hearing. The three are criminally charged with mishandling federal documents uncovered on Aug. 8, 2022, at Mar-a-Lago. All three have pleaded not guilty.
11:45 a.m.: Debate among attendees to Fort Pierce Trump visit
A heated debate broke out behind the Alto Lee Adams, Sr., U.S. Courthouse where former President Trump is inside taking part in a hearing before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida, who is based in Fort Pierce. Aside from this debate, it's been relatively peaceful around the courthouse.
11 a.m.: Lunch time in Fort Pierce?
Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies, who led former President Trump's motorcade into Fort Pierce on motorcycles, were spotted having lunch and breakfast at the Pot Belli Deli while Trump is in his court hearing inside the federal courthouse. Other officers and some from the crowd were seen in Mervis' Cafe for coffee and Cuban food.
10:50: Avid Trump supporter welcomed former president
"I got up at 3, hit the road at 6," said Bob Fix of Loxahatchee. "I ended up getting to Fort Pierce a little after 7."
10:30 a.m. Biking around Fort Pierce to keep it safe
Law enforcement officers pedal around Fort Pierce while former President Trump is inside the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce for a hearing in his criminal classified documents case.
10:15 a.m.: Trump documents court hearing underway
The federal court hearing is expected to last most of the business day as U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon hears arguments from Trump’s attorneys as to why this criminal case should be thrown out.
9:50 a.m.: Crowd relaxes after Trump passes in Fort Pierce
Former President Trump could be seen giving a fist bump to the crowd gathered in back of the federal courthouse. About 70 people watched as he passed with his motorcade.
9:30 a.m.: Trump arrives in Fort Pierce
9:05 a.m.: Eyes in the sky in Fort Pierce
9 a.m.: People gather behind federal courthouse in Fort Pierce
About 70 people are gathered around the federal courthouse.
"We've been with him since 2015," said Beau Slay of Fort Pierce, the general manager of Moonswiners Bar-B-Q. "As long as he's fighting, we're fighting."
8:40 am.: Trump supporters start to gather in Fort Pierce
"Black people are no longer blind," said Blacks for Trump leader Maurice Symonette. "Blacks and whites must unite behind Trump."
8:30 a.m.: Officers fuel up in Fort Pierce
Getting ready to monitor public safety in Fort Pierce. It's gonna be a hot day, with temperatures expected in the 80s.
What is Trump's classified documents case?
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.
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.
How often has Trump been to hearings in this case?
It's the third time Trump has been at the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce. On March 1 and Feb. 12, he attended hearings related to the charges of mishandling classified documents.
A crowd of about 50 people lined Fifth Street behind the courthouse ahead of the March 1 hearing. Trump and his attorneys were there for arguments about whether the current May 20 trial date should be pushed off. Cannon has not ruled yet whether that date will change.
A crowd of about 200 people lined Fifth Street behind the courthouse ahead of the Feb. 12 hearing. 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.
Where is Fort Pierce, Florida?
Fort Pierce is a city within St. Lucie County, about 68 miles north of Trump's famous Mar-a-Lago estate in the town of Palm Beach. 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: Former President Trump is in Fort Pierce for hearing in documents case
