Former President Donald Trump is set to face trial in federal court on March 4, 2024, over allegations related to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Reuters is reporting U.S. Judge Tanya Chutkan made the announcement on Monday, indicating that the trial will commence just one day before the pivotal “Super Tuesday” in the Republican presidential nominating contest.
In the midst of his campaign to regain the White House, Trump will have to grapple with a demanding legal schedule, with a minimum of three criminal trials during the Republican presidential primaries.
A decision on the trial date for a fourth case in Georgia remains pending.
Despite a request from Trump’s legal team for an April 2026 trial date, citing the need to sift through an overwhelming 12.8 million pages of evidence presented by the government, Chutkan dismissed the notion as excessive.
“The defense’s proposed date of April 2026 is far beyond what is necessary,” she declared, adding that “Mr. Trump will have to make the trial date work, regardless of his schedule.”
In addition to the federal case in Washington, Trump is due to face another trial in New York on March 25.
This trial pertains to allegations that he concealed payments to an adult film actress.
Yet another trial is set for May 20, 2024 in Florida, where Trump is accused of improperly keeping classified documents after his presidential term and attempts to obstruct justice.
While a definitive date for the Georgia trial remains under discussion, Fulton County prosecutor Fani Willis had initially aimed for a March 4 start.
However, with the recent scheduling by Judge Chutkan, adjustments are anticipated.
Though absent from Monday’s hearing, Trump has previously criticized Chutkan, alleging that she harbors bias against him.
Chutkan, in response, has cautioned Trump against making incendiary online remarks about those participating in the legal proceedings.
The former President has consistently argued all four criminal proceedings have been politically-charged endeavors to prevent his political comeback.
He has entered pleas of not guilty in three cases and is scheduled to submit his plea for the Georgia case on September 6, Reuters notes.
