Special Counsel Jack Smith Sets January 2 Start Date for Trump Election Trial

Special counsel Jack Smith has proposed a January 2 start date for former President Donald Trump's trial on charges of attempting to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Smith argued that this trial date would serve the public's strong interest in a speedy trial, particularly in a case involving an ex-president accused of conspiring to subvert a democratic election. The trial is estimated to take four to six weeks, and evidence production is expected to be completed by August 28. Trump's legal team previously proposed that the trial should not take place before the November 2024 presidential election.