Donald Trump has said he will appeal the scheduling of a March 2024 trial over his alleged attempts to subvert his 2020 election defeat, but legal experts say such a move is not possible.
Judge Tanya Chutkan set a March 4 trial date for the federal case in Washington, one day before Republicans in more than a dozen US states decide whether to give him a chance to recapture the White House.
Super Tuesday is a potentially crucial date in the Republican presidential nominating contest, as states from Maine to California will hold their primaries.
I will APPEAL, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform, complaining that the timing amounted to election interference.
A court's schedule decision is not a legitimate basis for an appeal prior to a verdict, according to legal experts.
During the hearing on Monday, Mr. Trump's attorney John Lauro vowed toabide by the judge's scheduling decision despite being unhappy with it.
The former president's planned trial in Washington DC is one of four criminal prosecutions he faces as he prepares to run for the presidential nomination in 2024.
Mr. Donald Trump's lawyers had pressed for a trial date in April 2026, but Ms. Chutkan said they did not need that long to prepare.
Mr. Trump will need to make the trial date work, regardless of his schedule, Mr. Chutkan said.
In a statement, Trump's attorneys said they needed time to sort through the government's evidence, which totals about 12.8 million pages.
This man's liberty and life is at stake, and he deserves an adequate representation, Mr. Lauro said.
Prosecutors said much of the evidence consists of public materials, including Donald Trump's statements and congressional records, they said, indicating that they had handed most of it over.
Mr Chutkan said Mr Trump's legal team should have already made a good start.
The latest trial date means that Trump will likely face trial in at least three criminal cases while campaigning for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the November 2024 election.
He is also a defendant in three civil trials scheduled to take place over the next six months.
A third trial in Florida is scheduled for May 20th, 2024, on federal charges alleging that Donald Trump illegally retained classified records after leaving the White House and tried to obstruct justice.
A trial date has not been set for the fourth criminal case in Georgia. Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis has asked for a start on March 4, but Ms Chutkan's decision means the timeline will likely shift.
Mr Trump didn't attend the hearing, but had previously lashed out at Ms Chutkan, saying, without evidence, that she is biased against him. She has warned that Donald Trump should stop posting inflammatory comments online about witnesses or others involved in the case.
Trump has depicted all four criminal charges as a politically motivated effort to prevent him from returning to power.
He has pleaded not guilty in three of those cases, and is due to enter a plea in that case on September 6 in Georgia, according to the court documents, which also stems from his efforts to overturn his 2020 defeat.
5 Comments
marshal
Donald Trump's claims of election interference do not hold weight, as the trial is unrelated to his campaign for the presidency. It is a separate legal matter that must be resolved independently.
Tyutyunya
The appeal process should be reserved for situations where there are substantial legal or procedural issues that need to be addressed. Challenging the trial date based on personal preferences is not a valid basis for an appeal.
marshal
Donald Trump's team had ample time to prepare for the trial, as they were given access to the government's evidence well in advance. The request for additional time is unnecessary and unjustified.
Tyutyunya
The fact that Donald Trump is facing multiple trials and civil cases is a reflection of his actions and behavior, rather than a coordinated effort to target him unfairly. Each case is separate and distinct, and the legal process should be allowed to proceed independently.
marshal
The suggestion that the trial date should revolve around Donald Trump's campaign schedule is an attempt to prioritize his political interests over the pursuit of justice. The court's decision should not be swayed by political considerations.