Happy New Year: Jack Smith wants a Jan. 2 trial for his Trump election case

Special counsel Jack Smith's team on Thursday asked U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to schedule the start of former President Donald Trump's trial for Jan. 2, 2024.

Last week, Smith indicted Trump on four charges, including conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. The former president has pleaded not guilty.

The Jan. 2 date precedes the start of the Republican primary contest, with the Iowa caucus scheduled for Jan. 15, the Associated Press noted. 

"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, where the defendant, a former president, is charged with conspiring to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election, obstruct the certification of the election results, and discount citizens’ legitimate votes," Smith's team wrote.

Trump's team has not proposed a start date as of press time and Chutkan will likely determine the start of the trial at an Aug. 28 hearing.

Smith's other case against Trump will go to trial on May 20, 2024. In that case, Trump faces 37 counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified materials.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.