Judge Chutkan Denies Donald Trump His Wish

Judge Tanya Chutkan denied former President Donald Trump's request to delay his trial for months, but gave him a partial victory.

The ex-president's election subversion trial, in which he's accused of obstructing the 2020 presidential election, is scheduled to begin March 4 and Trump's legal team has been pushing to delay the proceedings. His lawyers have largely been unsuccessful in their attempts, but on Tuesday, Chutkan gave his lawyers extra time to file motions regarding evidence.

Trump's attorneys will have until November 27 to file motions for subpoenas and until December 13 to force prosecutors to produce evidence. The previous deadline was November 9. Trump wanted an extension to February 9.

In arguing for the extension, Trump's attorneys claimed the evidence the government provided was not well organized and extensive. They asserted that it would be nearly impossible to go through everything that was provided before the November 9 deadline.

Chutkan called most of Trump's arguments "unpersuasive," and noted that the court knew how large a volume of discovery there was before setting the schedule. The judge also noted that Trump's trial could be delayed if he were given until February 9 to file motions for subpoenas.

However, Chutkan ruled that Trump's team could have a few extra weeks to give them some more time and still ensure the trial proceeds as scheduled.

Newsweek reached out to Steven Cheung, campaign spokesperson for Trump, via email on Tuesday night, but did not hear back in time for publication.

In August, Trump was indicted on four counts related to the 2020 election, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, witness tampering, conspiracy against the rights of citizens, and obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges and has accused Special Counsel Jack Smith of being vindictive and targeting him for political reasons.

Trump's also been critical of Chutkan, calling her "highly partisan," and attacking the case against him on Truth Social and at rallies. The criticism spurred Chutkan to impose a gag order on the former president—and then reinstate one after it was temporarily lifted.

"No other criminal defendant would be allowed to do so, and I'm not going to allow it in this case," Chutkan said during a hearing.

Trump accused the gag order of being another means of silencing him for political purposes. He posted on Truth Social after it was reinstated that it was ordered by a "Trump hating" judge and will put him at a disadvantage against his "prosecutorial and political opponents."

"Few can believe this is happening, but I will appeal. How can they tell the leading candidate that he, and only he, is seriously restricted from campaigning in a free and open manner? It will not stand!" Trump wrote.

Trump substantially leads the race among candidates for the GOP nomination in the 2024 race to the White House.

Chutkan's ruling on Tuesday marked the second time she gave Trump's attorneys an extension. She previously delayed the original deadline for the motions from October 9 to November 9.