Donald Trump’s federal trial on four felony charges connected to his attempt to undermine the results of the 2020 election being prosecuted by Special Counsel Jack Smith will begin on March 4th, 2024, DC Circuit Court Judge Tanya Chutkan said after hearing arguments from both prosecutors and Donald Trump’s attorneys, per Scott MacFarlane of CBS News and Kyle Cheney of Politico. Chutkan assured counsel “that I intend to ensure he gets [a fair trial]. But this case isn’t going to trial in 2026.”
Molly Gaston, a lawyer from the Special Counsel’s office, argued for a quick court date, saying that the defense has plenty of opportunity to review pertinent information and that their argument about the volume of material ignores the fact that the Special Counsel’s office prepped information for the defense, and that Trump’s behavior at rallies and on social media jeopardizes the opportunity for a fair trail because Trump’s attempting to intimidate witnesses, poison the jury pool and manipulate court processes.
Trump’s lawyers, led by John Lauro, opted for theatrics rather than substance, with Trump lawyer John Lauro’s voice raising as he accused the prosecution of wanting a “show trial” not a “speedy trial.” Chutkan rebuked Lauro’s tone and his constant claims that Trump is too overwhelmed: “Let’s take the temperature down … I understand Mr. Trump is presumed innocent, as is every defendant … Let’s not overlook the fact that Mr. Trump has considerable resources that every defendant does not usually have.”
Lauro said he intends to use defenses: selective prosecution and presidential immunity. He informed the court that he intends to file three separate motions to slow down proceedings: a motion to throw out the charges based on selection prosecution as well as a request for an evidentiary hearing; a move for a stay based on the already debunked claim of non-existent “Executive Immunity” claims; and motions to dismiss each conspiracy count separately.
In a fanciful argument, Lauro claims Joe Biden is prosecuting Trump because Trump went after Hunter Biden. However, Trump didn’t prosecute Hunter Biden even though his Attorney Generals targeted Hunter Biden over Trump’s single term in office but failed to bring charges; Joe Biden’s Justice Department was the one that actually prosecuted Hunter.
Lauro, frequently talking over Chutkan, later finallyk admitted that Trump should not get any special treatment because he is just another defendant before the bench, although he didn’t exactly mean to make that point. Stating that Trump needs time to prepare his defense, Lauro asserted, “This man’s liberty and life is at stake. He’s no different than any American.”
The Special Counsel’s office requested a start date of January 2, 2024, while Trump lawyers submitted a fanciful request of April 2026, two and a half years away, for the start. Trump’s team argued Trump’s myriad legal problems demand that the date be set far in advance, to which Chutkan replied, “Setting a trial date does not depend and should not depend on a defendant’s personal and professional obligations. … Mr. Trump, like any defendant will have to make the trial date work, regardless of his schedule.”