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Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, in charge of the proceedings against former President Donald Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 elections and his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol assault, has set the trial date for March 4, 2024. This decision was announced after a hearing held in the U.S. capital.
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The judge rejected the request from special prosecutor Jack Smith for the trial to begin in January 2024, near the anniversary of the Capitol assault. She also dismissed Trump's defense team's request to postpone the trial until after the November 2024 presidential elections.
The chosen date, March 4th, is a day before "Super Tuesday," a significant moment in the U.S. primaries when several states hold internal processes to select their candidates.
Former President Trump faces four charges in Washington DC: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction and attempted obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. The maximum penalties for these charges vary, ranging from five years in prison to twenty years, depending on the charge.
In another related case, it was announced that the reading of charges against Trump and 18 other defendants in Georgia, for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in that state, will take place on September 6th. The accused will have the opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty at that time.
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Trump has pleaded not guilty in three other criminal cases in which he is also charged, related to payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, taking classified documents from the White House, and the Capitol assault.
The start date for the trial against Trump for irregular payments to Stormy Daniels is scheduled for March 25, 2024, in New York. Additionally, the trial in Florida for the classified White House documents is set for May 20, 2024.