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- Trump could be on trial just weeks before the closely watched Iowa caucuses.
- New York prosecutors' historic indictment of the former president was publicly released on Tuesday.
- Trump formally pled "not guilty" to a 34-counts of falsifying business records.
Donald Trump could be on trial in New York just weeks before the 2024 Iowa caucuses, illustrating the headaches that will likely come as the former president tries to juggle court appearances with his political future.
Manhattan prosecutors told New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan on Tuesday that they wanted a trial to be scheduled for January 2024 on charges that Trump falsified business records as a way to cover up alleged hush money schemes. Trump's legal team asked for a "spring 2024" trial date.
Either date would create major political headaches for the former president. By December, the 2024 GOP presidential race will be nearing its peak in the final stretch before the Iowa caucuses. Traditionally, candidates stump across Iowa and other early states in a final stretch before the holiday season.
A final date has not yet been selected, but it's expected the 2024 caucuses will be in early February.
Merchan said he'd decide on a trial date after Trump's legal team has a chance to review evidence collected by prosecutors. Prosecutors plan to hand over the bulk of that discovery material over the next two months, they said in court.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's historic 34-count indictment of Trump was made public during the ex-president's arraignment Tuesday, as the former president pleaded not guilty to the multiple felony counts.
Before a possible trial, Merchan wants Trump to return to court on December 4 for a hearing over whether to dismiss the charges against him. The former president's attorneys asked to waive Trump's right to appear in person, citing logistical and security concerns.
The judge said he wanted Trump to show up "the same way we expect all other defendants to appear in court," but said he'd be open to hearing more arguments on the issue later on.
The first-in-the-nation caucuses will not come close to determining the nomination. In actuality, Iowa awards relatively few delegates compared to a state such as Texas.
Rather the caucuses and later contests in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada will set the tone for the nomination contest and likely winnow the field. Iowa will also be the first time that Trump has been on a ballot since losing the 2020 presidential election.
Despite his popularity in Iowa, Trump also narrowly lost the 2016 caucuses to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. An early loss to a challenger such as potentially Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis could be devastating to the former president's chances.