Donald Trump: Trial date set for ex-US president on charges of plotting to overturn election results
The federal case is one of four criminal cases facing Trump – including one in Georgia, where he is also due to be arraigned on 6 September.
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Monday 28 August 2023 19:49, UK
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Former President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departure from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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The trial of Donald Trump on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election result has been set for 4 March 2024.
The date means Trump’s trial could start almost eight months to the day before the 2024 US presidential election.
And it’s also one day before so-called Super Tuesday, when many states nominate their Republican or Democratic candidate for president.
The former president is currently hot favourite to win the Republican nomination to take on President Joe Biden.
The decision from US district judge Tanya Chutkan denied a defence request to postpone the trial until April 2026, around a year and a half after the 2024 election, but also sets it later than the January date proposed by special counsel Jack Smith’s team.
Judge Chutkan said: “The public has a right to a prompt and efficient resolution of this matter.”
Hours later, Trump said he would “appeal” the trial date given in the federal election case in a Truth Social post.
He said: “Deranged Jack Smith & his team of Thugs, who were caught going to the White House just prior to Indicting the 45th President of the United States (an absolute No No!), have been working on this Witch Hunt for almost 3 years, but decided to bring it smack in the middle of Crooked Joe Biden’s Political Opponent’s campaign against him.
“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!”
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Trump was charged earlier this month in a four-count indictment with scheming to undo his loss to Democrat Mr Biden in the 2020 election.
Mr Smith’s team has filed a separate federal lawsuit against Trump, alleging his unlawful possession of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Florida property, along with his refusal to relinquish them. This case is scheduled for trial on 20 May next year.
Additionally, Trump is facing state cases in both New York and Georgia.
In Manhattan, he is facing charges of manipulating business records in relation to a payment intended to conceal an affair with an adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Meanwhile, in Fulton County, Georgia, Trump and 18 co-defendants have been indicted on allegations of participating in a racketeering scheme aimed at overturning the state’s 2020 election results.
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Trump had his mugshot taken on Thursday – a historic first for a former US president – and was booked in as inmate P01135809 as he was presented with 13 charges at Fulton County jail.
The 77-year-old also posted on X, formerly Twitter, for the first time since 2021 – sharing his own mugshot. It was the first time Trump has used the social media platform since owner Elon Musk lifted his ban.
Donald Trump 2:50
Play Video – Donald Trump booked on 13 charges
Donald Trump booked on 13 charges
Trump accused his political opponents of “election interference”, with the charges coming as he campaigns to return to the White House.
“What has taken place here is a travesty of justice. We did nothing wrong,” he said.
“I did nothing wrong and everybody knows that. I’ve never had such support.”
Mr Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
He wrote on social media last week that he was being prosecuted over what he described as a “perfect phone call” when he asked the Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, to help “find 11,780 votes” for him to overturn his loss in Georgia.
Despite the charges, Trump remains the frontrunner to be the Republican Party’s candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
On Wednesday night, he skipped a televised debate between eight of his party rivals and instead took part in an online interview in which he questioned whether Mr Biden would be physically capable of running in the campaign.
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