Jack Smith proposes January start date for Trump trial on 2020 election

Federal prosecutors have proposed starting former President Donald Trump’s trial over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election result on Jan. 2 of next year — under two weeks before the Iowa caucuses.

In an eight-page filing with DC federal court Thursday, special counsel Jack Smith’s team estimated the trial would “take no longer than four to six weeks.”

“A January 2 trial date would vindicate the public’s strong interest in a speedy trial—an interest guaranteed by the Constitution and federal law in all cases, but of particular significance here,” prosecutor Molly Gaston wrote in the filing.

The 77-year-old Trump’s legal team has until Aug. 17 to respond to prosecutors’ motion, with a hearing scheduled Aug. 28 to hash out the trial date.

Trump was formally arraigned and pleaded not guilty last week to Smith’s four-count indictment against him for his purported efforts to remain in power following his defeat by Joe Biden.

The charges against Trump include: obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiracy against rights, and conspiracy to defraud the US.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan is tasked with overseeing the case, and Trump has publicly railed against her and called for her recusal.

The 45th president is also staring down a 40-count indictment in Florida federal court over his alleged retention of classified national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

Trump entered a not guilty plea Thursday to a superseding incitement levying three additional counts against him. Co-defendant and Trump valet Walt Nauta was also arraigned on additional charges Thursday.

Federal prosecutors had sought a Dec. 11 trial start date in the Mar-a-Lago documents matter, but US District Judge Aileen Cannon set proceedings to begin May 20, 2024.

If that date holds, the Florida trial would come after the bulk of the 2024 GOP primary and caucus contests, with just over a half-dozen still outstanding.

The Republican National Convention is slated for July 15-18, 2024, in Milwaukee, and Trump is the current undisputed front-runner.

Trump is also facing a 34-count indictment out of Manhattan for allegedly falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments.

Additionally, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is mulling possible charges against Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia.

Her inquiry was sparked by a Jan. 2, 2021 phone call Trump had with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which the president demanded the official “find, uh, 11,780 votes,” enough needed to reverse his Peach State loss.

Willis is planning to seek over a dozen indictments in that case before a Georgia grand jury next week, CNN has reported.

Trump has vehemently denied wrongdoing in every single case.