Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis is requesting a March 4 start date in the trial of former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants over what prosecutors allege was a criminal plot to subvert Georgia’s 2020 election results and illegally keep Trump in power. Voters in Alabama, and over a dozen Super Tuesday states will be voting the very next day in presidential primaries.
Attorneys from both sides are likely to still be making opening arguments on March 5 (assuming they are done with jury selection).
At this point, voters in Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia will all be voting on March 5.
Democrats have a very different primary and caucus schedule this time around than Republicans, so not every state will have both party primaries and caucuses on the same day, though most of the Super Tuesday states do.
At this point, the Republicans will begin their presidential selection with the Iowa Caucus on Jan. 15, followed by the New Hampshire Primary sometime in January, the Nevada Caucus on Feb. 8, the South Carolina primary on Feb. 24, the Michigan Primary on Feb. 27, and the Idaho Caucus on March 2, then the North Dakota Caucus on March 4 ahead of Super Tuesday on March 5.
The Democrats will begin their presidential selection with New Hampshire at some time in January, followed by the South Carolina primary on Feb. 3, the Nevada Caucus on Feb. 6, and the Michigan primary on Feb. 27 ahead of Super Tuesday on March 5.
Willis has also proposed that their arraignments occur during the week of Sept. 5.
“In light of Defendant Donald John Trump’s other criminal and civil matters pending in the courts of our sister sovereigns, the State of Georgia proposes certain deadlines that do not conflict with these other courts’ already-scheduled hearings and trial dates,” Willis wrote in the filing.
The actual trial date will be decided by a judge, not the D.A.
Trump faces more trials that will interfere with campaigning.
Trump’s New York case is set for March 25.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has requested a trial date of Jan. 2 for the federal trial in D.C. over Trump’s actions after losing the 2020 presidential election.
“We do want to move this case along,” Willis said.
It has been suggested that having numerous trials of the leading Republican contender for the presidency during an election year will lead to “chaos.”
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) said on Wednesday that the Georgia indictments were “pure politics.”
“Where I come from, you beat your opponents by winning fair and square,” Tuberville said. “This witch hunt has gone on for long enough. Democrats are afraid of President Trump because they know he will expose their corruption. The American people deserve an equal justice system — not one that twists the law to fit their politics.”
The former President was indicted on 13 charges along with 18 of his attorneys, campaign staff, and local Georgia affiliates. Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, one of those indicted, has already filed a motion that the case be moved to federal court.
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