Fani Willis Proposed Trial Date Could Hinder Trump

Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis is aiming for a trial date in early March 2024 in her case against Donald Trump and 18 of his allies.

On Monday, Willis said Trump and the other defendants had been indicted on 41 counts in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. Each defendant is accused of violating the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute, which makes it a crime to participate in a "pattern of racketeering activity" or conspiring to do so. Trump is facing 13 counts in the indictment.

On Wednesday, Willis, Fulton County's district attorney, issued a proposed scheduling order that revealed she wants the trial to start on March 4, 2024, only eight days before Georgia's presidential preference primary. Trump is the leading contender for the Republican nomination in a crowded field of candidates.