DOJ Admits Trump Prosecution is Politically Motivated

Written by Hudson Crozier

What’s happening: The Supreme Court agreed to consider a petition to keep the scheduled March 4, 2024, trial date for the election interference case against former President Donald Trump.

• How we got here: Trump, the GOP’s 2024 frontrunner, is appealing a judge’s decision to reject his claims of presidential immunity from prosecution. Special Counsel Jack Smith wants the Supreme Court to rule quickly on the issue to ensure “an appropriate timetable” for the case.

• The reasoning: Smith’s petition argues it is in the “public interest” to speed up the process because Trump threatened “democracy” and “the peaceful transfer of power” through his response to the 2020 election.

Why it matters: Smith is acknowledging that he is driven by the political significance of this case — an important point to Trump and other critics. The supposedly unbiased prosecutor now demands a trial before the 2024 election on this basis.

Zoom out: Regardless of the 2020 election case, Trump’s legal calendar will make for a historic and unpredictable election season.

• A verdict in Trump’s civil fraud trial is expected this month. Writer E. Jean Carroll’s second lawsuit against him will go to trial next month.

• The New York trial over payments to porn star Stormie Daniels is scheduled for March, followed by the federal classified documents case in May.

• Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis has asked for an August trial date in her case related to Trump’s 2020 election challenges.

• Trump has promised to keep running for president even if he is convicted of crimes.