A U.S. federal judge has ordered that the trial in the classified documents case… that special counsel Jack Smith brought against former President Donald Trump will begin in May of next year.

The trial could begin as early as May 20.

A pre-trial hearing in the case will be held on May 14.

If that timeline holds true, the trial would occur in the midst of the 2024 race for the White House.

Trump’s legal team wanted to postpone the trial until after the general election in November, 2024.

Polls indicate that Republicans would overwhelmingly select the 77-year-old Trump to be the party’s nominee for the general election against presumptive Democratic nominee, President Joe Biden.