Judge: Trump’s Campaign Is “Not Relevant” To His Trial

The New York Times reports:

A federal judge declared on Thursday that she would not let former President Donald J. Trump’s campaign for the White House affect the schedule of the criminal case in which he stands accused of plotting to overturn the 2020 election.

At an hourlong hearing, the judge, Tanya S. Chutkan, said the November election was simply “not relevant” to the timing of how Mr. Trump’s case should unfold. “I am definitely not getting drawn into an election dispute,” she told Mr. Trump’s lawyer.

Judge Chutkan did not rule from the bench on how she intends to conduct that task or a schedule for completing it, but said she would issue a written order laying out her plans as soon as possible.

The Daily Beast reports:

John Lauro, a Trump attorney, asked that Chutkan not rush proceedings. The judge fired back that the myriad of delays that have already affected the case is proof she’s handling things in a timely manner. “This case has been pending for over a year,” she said. “We’re hardly sprinting toward the finish line here.”

Things got a little chippy between Lauro and Chutkan at one point, with the judge clearly tired of hearing Trump’s team speak ad nauseam about the case’s national importance.

As Lauro began to stand up to speak at one point, Chutkan called out, “I don’t need anymore rhetoric on how serious or grave this is.” Lauro shot back: “It’s not rhetoric. It’s called legal argument.”

The trial still won’t happen before the election.

Here’s how a real judge handles Trump, making clear he’s just like any other defendant-

Trump lawyer: We’re talking about the presidency of the United States.

Judge Chutkan: I’m not talking about the presidency, I’m talking about a four count indictment.

— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) September 5, 2024