Calay News
A few days after the unique police image was captured of the former president in a Georgia prison (southeast) due to his fourth criminal indictment, the fate of the favorite in the Republican primaries will be influenced in part by the decisions of Judge Tanya Chutkan of the Court of District.
Trump is facing charges of conspiring to undermine the 2020 election, in which he was defeated by Democrat Joe Biden.
Special counsel Jack Smith has proposed that Trump’s federal trial in Washington begin on January 2, 2024, anticipating that it should last no more than four to six weeks. Smith stressed that this date balances the defendant’s right to prepare his own defense with the strong public interest in an expedited process, given the landmark nature of the case.
Despite this, Trump defenders have suggested a much more distant date, in April 2026, after the November 2024 presidential elections, where the magnate aspires to return to the White House.
Judge Tanya Chutkan will hear arguments from both sides in federal court on Monday at 10:00 a.m. local time (14:00 GMT). Her determination of a trial date could be crucial to the Republican’s aspirations in his quest for his party’s nomination in the presidential race.
Most legal experts consider the two-and-a-half-year period proposed by the defense to be exaggerated and believe that a time frame more in line with the prosecution’s wishes will be established.
Former prosecutor and law professor Harry Litman said the judge could opt for a date “around March or April” 2024, seeking to balance moderation and non-precipitation of the process.
In addition, the judge has already warned Trump about any statements that could influence jury selection, which could lead her to set an earlier date for the trial.
In 2023, the 77-year-old former president will have already accumulated four criminal charges, two filed by Smith and another two by state prosecutors from New York and Georgia.
Trial dates in New York and Florida are scheduled for March and May 2024, respectively. The charges range from undercover payments to a porn actress to alleged mishandling of government documents.
Analysts suggest an acquittal at any trial could boost Trump’s standing in the Republican primary, while a conviction on a serious charge could have unpredictable repercussions for his political career.
