Former President Donald Trump is devising a legal strategy to potentially postpone his impending trials as he contemplates a presidential campaign.
In a social media statement on August 16, Trump expressed his desire to delay the four criminal trials he is currently facing until after the upcoming Election Day on November 5, 2024.
He asserted that the ongoing trials, which he deemed as part of the Biden Administration’s agenda, should not interfere with the electoral process.
Trump has persistently alleged that these trials are politically motivated to hinder his 2024 White House bid, although no concrete evidence supports this claim. Despite his assertions, legal experts are skeptical about his ability to effectively stall these trials.
Prosecutors are aiming to initiate proceedings within the initial five months of 2024, coinciding with the period when the Republican Party conducts caucuses and primaries to select their presidential nominees.
Bradley P. Moss, an attorney specializing in national security matters, stated that while Trump could attempt to delay the trials, there’s currently no indication that the courts would endorse such an effort.
Trump’s legal team has several potential avenues for delaying proceedings, such as seeking changes in trial venues, requesting recusal of judges, disputing the applicability of certain charges, contesting jury selection protocols, and arguing that the trials might unjustly disrupt his presidential campaign.
In essence, Trump is aiming to use a strategy of delay to navigate the legal challenges he is facing while also considering his future political ambitions. However, legal analysts remain skeptical about the feasibility of his plan, and it remains uncertain whether the courts will grant his requests for trial postponements.
Appeals can be pursued for unfavorable rulings, including escalating the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
Barb McQuade, a former federal prosecutor and current law professor at the University of Michigan, noted, “I don’t anticipate trials being postponed solely due to an impending election, but various practical aspects of the legal process might lead to such an outcome.”
