Donald Trump Federal Election Interference Trial Date Set Right in the Middle of the Republican Primary Election

Donald Trump's presidential campaign just hit a massive snag as US Judge Tanya Chutkan scheduled his federal trial over his election interference charges on March 4, right in the middle of the Republican primary.

According to Reuters, the date that Judge Chutkan has set is the day before "Super Tuesday," which is usually the day when the most electoral votes are up for grabs, thus cementing who the next Republican candidate will be. Among the states contested on "Super Tuesday" include Texas and California.

Trump is currently leading his Republican opponents by a wide margin, as seen in the most recent polls. His legal troubles have so far not dampened his support from his most loyal followers. However, the trial might convert those still on the fences as to which Republican candidate they might support.

With the March 4 trial date set, this means that Trump will be standing on trial in at least three separate criminal cases while campaigning to become the next Republican nominee. Should he win the nomination, he is expected to take on President Joe Biden in the November general election, and his trials could swing independent voters and more centrist Republicans against him.

Trump is currently facing four criminal trials, including the porn star hush money payment case in New York, the federal election interference case in Washington DC, the Georgia election interference case, and the federal classified documents case in Florida. He is also facing three civil trials, including the defamation case filed by E. Jean Carroll.

His porn star hush money case is scheduled for March 25, with Judge Chutkan saying that she will be consulting the judge in that case if there are any potential scheduling conflicts. His classified documents trial is scheduled for May 20, 2024. His Georgia elections case has not yet been scheduled, though DA Fani Willis has asked for a March 4 trial date. This might not happen anymore because of the date that Judge Chutkan has scheduled for the federal trial.

When Will the Republican Primary Elections Be Decided?

Judge Chutkan's scheduling means that while the Republican primary elections are ongoing, he would have faced his criminal trials at least thrice, as his Georgia election trial still has no schedule.

However, Fulton County DA Fani Willis may get the RICO case in Georgia started as early as October. One of Trump's alleged co-conspirators asked for a speedy trial with an earlier separate date, with Willis wanting to try everyone at the same time. It is still not certain if the judge would accept that request or give a later date.

According to CNN, primary candidates are usually decided around May. Trump previously clinched the Republican nomination around late May 2016, while Mitt Romney clinched the 2012 Republican nomination around the end of May.

Judge Denies Donald Trump's Request To Hold Trial After the Election

Before Judge Chutkan scheduled the trial for March 4, lawyers for both sides requested dueling trial dates. Prosecutors from Special Counsel Jack Smith's office wanted an earlier date but were denied. Trump's defense attorneys wanted the trial to be held after the election in what many say is a blatant attempt to try and throw out the case should Trump be elected president.

Trump lawyers argued that they do not have time to prepare for a March trial date, citing the landmark Powell v. Alabama case as a precedent. In that case, several African-American teens were tried on charges of raping two white women just days after their indictments.

However, in her opinion, Chutkan stated that the Supreme Court found that the "trial court failed to give the defendants reasonable time and opportunity to secure counsel and the defendants were incapable of adequately making their own defense," thus overturning their convictions. In other words, Trump already has attorneys, so their use of the case as a precedent was wrong.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Judge sets March 2024 trial date for Trump federal election interference case - CBS News