The former US president Donald Trump will go on trial on March 4, 2024 in Washington for attempting to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, the most serious charge against him to date. “The public is entitled to a speedy and efficient resolution of this matter,” the federal judge said Tania Chatkan, after announcing her decision.
Earlier, Chatkan had warned Trump’s lawyers that they would not have the time they requested to prepare. Chatkan was asked to find a compromise between two very different proposals: Special Counsel Jack Smith wanted the trial to begin in Washington; on January 2nd and not last more than four to six weeks. Instead, Trump’s lawyers have been asking for a trial in April 2026, many months after the November 2024 presidential election, on the grounds that they need too much time to study the evidence the government has gathered.
Trump, who faces a marathon trial through 2024, did not attend today’s hearing on his most serious impeachment to date. He has dismissed all four criminal charges against him, claiming they are politically motivated attempts to prevent him from returning to power. He has pleaded not guilty to three of the cases, while on September 6 he will appear before a Georgia court for the fourth case. He also claims, without providing any proof, that Chatkan is biased against him.
One of his attorneys, John Lauro, said the defense needed more time to prepare. “This man’s liberty and life are at stake and he is entitled to adequate representation. We cannot do this within the time frame set by the government,” he claimed.
Prosecutors, however, pointed out that much of the evidence is publicly available, consisting of Trump’s own statements and congressional documents. Prosecutors today said they have turned over to the defense most of the 12.8 million pages of evidence.
Chatkan commented that Trump’s legal team should have already started its work since “he knew it was going to happen for some time.”
In Georgia, where Trump is accused of trying to overturn the statewide election, Attorney General Fannie Willis has requested that his trial also be set for March 4. One of his co-defendants, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, is lobbying to have the trial moved to federal rather than state court because he believes he could be treated more favorably there.
On March 25, Trump’s trial is set to begin in New York for another case, concerning the purchase of the silence of a former porn star. On May 20, he will stand trial in Florida on charges of illegally withholding classified documents after leaving the White House and obstruction of justice.
Source: News Beast
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