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 the hot favorite to win the Republican nomination to take on President Joe Biden.
The decision from US district judge Tanya Chutkan denied a defense 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!”
