Former President Donald Trump and his legal team are seeking a trial date in April 2026 for his criminal trial concerning alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The trial is in connection with the January 6 Capitol riots, and Trump has been indicted on various charges, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruction. Special counsel Jack Smith initially expressed a desire for a speedy trial, and the U.S. Department of Justice proposed a trial start date of January 2, 2024, just before the important Iowa caucus in the Republican primary process.
Trump’s attorneys argue that this case presents a unique situation where the “incumbent administration has targeted its primary political opponent—and leading candidate in the upcoming presidential election—with criminal prosecution.” They highlight the significant amount of evidence involved, including an extensive 8.5-terabyte initial production comprising over 11.5 million pages of documents, recordings, and electronic data.
In a recent motion, Trump’s legal team criticizes the government’s request for a swift trial schedule, suggesting that it aims to impede Trump’s ability to adequately prepare for the trial. They urge the court to set a reasonable trial schedule, taking into account the complexity of the case and the extensive evidence involved.
The scheduling of the trial is ultimately up to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is expected to announce the trial date on August 28th.