Videos
1 min ago
US judge sets date for historic Trump trial
WASHINGTON - A judge on Monday set 4 March 2024 for former president Donald Trump's election subversion conspiracy trial -- placing one of the biggest criminal cases in American history at the height of the next White House race.
The date -- a full two years before the defense team's proposal -- is the eve of "Super Tuesday," when more than a dozen states will pick between Trump and one of his rivals to be the 2024 Republican presidential nominee.
"Setting a trial date does not depend on the defendant's professional obligations so Mr Trump will have to make a date work," US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan told the hearing in Washington.
READ: Federal judge to set date for historic US versus Trump trial
The decision could harm Trump's hopes of recapturing the White House, and he posted an angry reaction on his social network Truth Social, calling lead prosecutor Jack Smith "deranged" and complaining of "election interference."
"Today a biased, Trump Hating Judge gave me only a two month extension, just what our corrupt government wanted, SUPER TUESDAY. I will APPEAL!" he said, although trial dates are usually not appealable.
Molly Gaston, prosecuting, said Trump was accused of "historic crimes" and described an "extraordinary public interest" in a quick trial.
The 77-year-old has been slapped with four criminal indictments this year -- twice by Smith and once each by state prosecutors in New York and Georgia.
But the case before Chutkan may pose the greatest legal peril to Trump -- particularly if it ends up being the first of what is shaping up to be a busy legal calendar for the former president.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges in an early August court appearance and was not required to attend Monday's procedural hearing.
READ: Trump to be arrested in Georgia election racketeering case
Smith had asked to begin on January 2 but Trump's lawyer John Lauro described that proposition as "a request for a show trial, not a speedy trial," calling the idea of having just four months to prepare "absurd and ridiculous."
"We will certainly abide by Your Honor's ruling, as we must," he told Chutkan after she announced her decision. But he added: "The trial date will deny President Trump the opportunity to have effective assistance of counsel."