What's next for America?

Former President Donald J. Trump's federal trial for charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election has been scheduled for early March 2024 by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. The trial date is close to the government's initial request of January and rejects Trump's proposal to delay the proceedings until after the 2024 election. This decision potentially conflicts with two other trials Trump is facing that month - one in Fulton County, Georgia, for tampering with the election, and another in Manhattan for hush-money payments to a porn actress.

The fact that three out of four criminal cases against Trump could go before separate juries in separate cities within weeks of one another highlights the extraordinary legal situation the former president finds himself in. Trump has been indicted in Washington, New York, Atlanta, and Fort Pierce, Florida. Prosecutors from these different jurisdictions are trying to find time for their trials amidst Trump's crowded calendar as a leading candidate for the Republican Party's 2024 presidential nomination.

If either of his federal trials is delayed until after the race and Trump prevails, he could potentially seek self-pardon or have the matters dismissed by his attorney general. However, Judge Chutkan dismissed arguments made by Trump's lawyers that more time was needed to prepare for trial due to the volume of discovery, downplaying their concerns. Trump's legal troubles are now inching closer to colliding with the Republican nomination calendar, adding an extra layer of complexity to the 2024 presidential race.