The federal judge presiding over Donald Trump’s criminal election interference case shut down a bid by the former president to set his trial more than two-and-a-half years away.
“This case is not going to trial in 2026,” Judge Tanya Chutkan said in a hearing Monday morning in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., NBC News reported.
But the judge also said that she would reject a proposal by federal prosecutors to bring the case to trial in less than five months on January 2.
Judge Tanya Chutkan says of Trump trial date: “Setting a trial date does not depend and should not depend on a defendant’s personal and professional obligations…Mr. Trump, like any defendant will have to make the trial date work, regardless of his schedule.”
Chutkan said that she did speak to the judge handling the New York state prosecution against Trump, since that trial is set to begin at the end of March
Whoa. After Judge Churkan announced the March 2024 trial date, Trump’s lawyers said, “The trial date will deny President Trump the opportunity to have effective assistance of counsel.” Judge Chutkan said his position is “noted in the record.” THIS is why we love Judge Chutkan.
Trump attorney John Lauro says his client’s “life and liberty are at stake and he deserves adequate representation.” Judge Chutkan responds: “I understand, but you are not going to get two more years…This case is not going to trial in 2026.”
Clear your calendar for the months after the new Trump federal trial date of March 4, 2024. Will almost certainly be a crucial period in American history.
Chutkan hearing could’ve been worse for Trump, but I’m not sure how. She called his lawyers misleading, obviously took their proposal as a stunt, and set a trial date about as early as she might have. Does trump now fire Lauro?
Trump's federal trial for efforts to overturn 2020 election has just been scheduled for March 4, 2024. March 4 is the day on which American Presidents were inaugurated from 1797 to 1933.
Trump’s legal counsel, John Lauro, did not speak to reporters on his way out of court this morning, saying “no comment” when asked if he had anything to say about the selected trial date. He argued repeatedly today that defense needed more prep time for an adequate defense. pic.twitter.com/KRNg2NL9cx
