Federal Judge Sets Trump Trial Date In Election Interference Case

A federal judge has set a March 4 trial date for former President Donald Trump’s election interference case in Washington, D.C.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan announced her decision Monday, arguing that it was made in “the interest of justice” and to give Trump’s legal team enough time to adequately prepare, The Guardian reported.

Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith proposed starting the trial in January, with the jury selection beginning in December. He estimated the trial would take four to six weeks.

Trump’s legal team, in contrast, requested that the trial start in April 2026, which would be nearly a year and a half after the next presidential election.

Former President Donald Trump is seen in Atlanta on Thursday ahead of his arrest on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

Chutkan called both proposals unacceptable, while Trump attorney John Lauro dismissed a 2023 trial as unjust, according to The Associated Press.

“Never in the history of the United States have we seen a case of this magnitude go to trial in four months, and this man’s liberty and life is at stake,” he said Monday. “He deserves an adequate representation. He’s no different than any American.”

Trump faces four federal charges: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.

The criminal case is one of four that the 2024 Republican front-runner currently faces.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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