WASHINGTON — Donald Trump will stand trial on March 4, 2024 in federal court docket in Washington for attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat, a federal decide dominated on Monday, establishing a crowded schedule for the previous president subsequent 12 months as he campaigns to recapture the White House.
The ruling by US Judge Tanya Chutkan implies that Trump will doubtless have to face trial in at the very least three separate felony circumstances through the thick of the Republican presidential nominating contest. A trial date in a fourth felony case has not but been set.
Trump’s attorneys had pressed for an April 2026 trial date, effectively previous the November 2024 presidential election, arguing that they wanted time to undergo the 12.8 million pages of proof the federal government had amassed.
But Chutkan mentioned they didn’t want that lengthy. “The defense’s proposed date of April 2026 is far beyond what is necessary,” she mentioned.
Trump’s trial is because of begin in the future earlier than “Super Tuesday,” when greater than a dozen US states will maintain their presidential nominating contests.
He can be scheduled to face trial in New York on March 25 on state fees of concealing a hush cash cost to a porn star.
A 3rd trial is scheduled for May 20, 2024 on federal fees in Florida, alleging that Trump illegally retained categorised data after leaving the White House and tried to impede justice.
A trial date for the fourth felony case in Georgia has not but been set. Fulton County prosecutor Fani Willis has requested a begin of March 4, however Chutkan’s choice implies that timeline will doubtless shift.
“Mr. Trump should make the trial date work, no matter his schedule,” Chutkan said.
Trump did not attend Monday’s hearing. He has previously lashed out at Chutkan, saying, without evidence, that she is biased against him. Chutkan has warned that Trump should stop posting inflammatory statements online about witnesses or others involved in the case.
Trump has portrayed all four criminal prosecutions as politically motivated attempts to stop him from returning to power.
He has pleaded not guilty in three of those cases, and is due in a Georgia court on Sept. 6 to enter a plea in the fourth case, according to a court filing issued on Monday. That case also stemming from his efforts to overturn his 2020 defeat.
One of his 18 co-defendants in Georgia, his former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, is pressing to move his trial to federal court, where he might face a more sympathetic jury.
In Washington, Trump’s attorneys say they need time to sort through the government’s evidence.
“This man’s liberty and life is at stake and he deserves an adequate representation,” attorney John Lauro said.
Prosecutors say much of the evidence consists of public materials, such as Trump’s statements and congressional records.
They said on Monday that they have handed over most of the evidence in the case, which totals about 12.8 million pages.
Chutkan said Trump’s legal team should have already gotten a good start. “Mr. Trump’s counsel has identified this was coming for a while,” she mentioned. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
