Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday night to rant about special counsel Jack Smith’s requested date for the criminal trial over the former president’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
On Thursday, Mr Smith’s office asked the District of Columbia judge overseeing the case for a four to six-week period beginning on 2 January next year.
The former president reacted furiously to the proposal, calling Mr Smith “an out of touch lunatic” and the suggested date a form of “election interference” – coming “just ahead of the important Iowa Caucuses”.
His rant came just hours before the judge will hear arguments from both sides over the matter of a protective order in the case.
Mr Smith’s office is requesting a protective order to limit what Mr Trump can publicise about the case.
Mr Trump’s defence team claim such an order would violate Mr Trump’s right to free speech.
A hearing will take place at 10am ET on Friday before Judge Tanya Chutkan.
Meanwhile, Fulton County DA Fani Willis issued a memorandum to her office staff denouncing a new lie being told about her by Mr Trump and his allies in an ad spot.
