Former President Trump’s federal trial starts March 4, 2024 — one day before Super Tuesday.
U.S. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan’s decision on Monday drew swift backlash from Trump supporters and concerned Americans who feel justice might not be impartial towards the former president.
Chutkan argued six months of preparation time was excessive, but Trump’s lawyer, John Lauro, strongly contested her viewpoint.
Politico stated, “The trial date raises the likelihood that Trump will spend nearly all of the presidential primary season in a criminal courtroom.”
They reported that “in addition to the trial in Washington,” Trump is “slated to face jurors in New York on March 25 on charges stemming from hush money payments to a porn star, and he’s scheduled to stand trial in Florida on May 20 on charges that he hoarded classified information at his Mar-a-Lago estate.”
On the other hand, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis hasn’t disclosed a trial date for the Georgia election case.
Allegedly, prosecutors supplied Trump’s legal team with 12.8 million documents for trial preparation.
In response, Lauro stated, “This is an enormous, overwhelming task.”
Politico reported Lauro “at times grew heated in his response, said there was no way he could be ready for trial without years to prepare. He noted that there are more than 250 government witnesses he has to research, as well as additional witnesses he may decide to call. He said he’s also in the process of drafting a long series of motions seeking to shrink the case against Trump or get it dismissed altogether.”
Lauro said, “This man’s liberty and life is at stake.” He then charged Biden’s Justice Department with orchestrating a political opponent’s “show trial.”
He said Trump is “no different than any American.”
The Federalist’s Sean Davis posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “J6 defendants have been rotting away in solitary awaiting trial for YEARS, but somehow Trump’s documents trial—which involves something like 60 million documents—magically gets scheduled for mid-2024? Mmmk.”
J6 defendants have been rotting away in solitary awaiting trial for YEARS, but somehow Trump’s documents trial—which involves something like 60 million documents—magically gets scheduled for mid-2024? Mmmk. https://t.co/cB1vNp1qaY
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) August 28, 2023
Chutkan asserted she’d treat the ex-president impartially without favoring the election timeline.
She said, “Setting a trial date does not depend and should not depend on the defendant’s personal and professional obligations. Mr. Trump, like any defendant, will have to make the trial date work regardless of his schedule.”
