'I'd be shocked': Watergate whistleblower says Trump can't delay election case beyond 2024

The Supreme Court's decision on Friday to sidestep special counsel Jack Smith's request to immediately take up former President Donald Trump's claim of immunity from prosecution is a win for the former president's efforts to delay and push out the date of his criminal trial for the 2020 plot to overthrow the presidential election — which experts believe he is trying to stall out until after the 2024 election, where if he wins he could make the trial go away with his control of the Justice Department.

But Trump shouldn't count on being able to delay it that far, said former Nixon White House counsel and Watergate whistleblower John Dean on CNN.

"Do they have the expiration date, do you see a scenario where Trump could, if the chips fall, all the chips fall in his direction, could delay beyond the election?" asked anchor Jim Sciutto.

"It is not impossible, but I think not likely," said Dean.

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The key reason it will be hard for Trump to do so, Dean said, is that "we really have the court in control of how much evidence and how the court proceeds, the trial court, to a greater degree here. And I would be shocked if the court does not take charge and go forward."

"I don't think he can prevail with the delay strategy," he added. "The D.C. Circuit is very privy to Donald Trump's delay tactics, and know what to do with them."

Watch the video below or at the link right here.

John Dean says Trump is unlikely to stall trials past electionwww.youtube.com