In a filing on Thursday, Special Counsel Jack Smith requested a trial start date of July 8 in the federal criminal case concerning former President Trump’s handling of classified documents.

Trump, the leading contender for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, has employed delay tactics in response to the four criminal indictments he faces, portraying himself as a victim to extend proceedings beyond the upcoming election.

The filing by Smith precedes a hearing scheduled for Friday, where the judge overseeing the case will address various issues, including the current trial schedule set to commence in May.

In a separate filing on the same day, Trump’s legal team requested a postponement of the trial until after the 2024 election, suggesting an alternative start date of August 12, Axios reported.

“As the leading candidate in the 2024 election, President Trump strongly asserts that a fair trial cannot be conducted this year in a manner consistent with the Constitution,” his attorneys wrote.

Written by B.C. Begley