Trump conviction almost certain if any trial comes pre-election — but they won't: expert

Donald Trump will almost certainly be convicted when he faces trial — but none of the cases will be heard before the general election, a lawyer involved in multiple January 6 prosecutions predicted.

Bill Shipley, who has represented more than 20 defendants in the Capitol riot cases, said the ex-president has barely a chance of being cleared by a jury.

But he added on X Thursday, "I've said pretty much since day 1 that I didn't think any of the cases would get to trial before the Nov. election.

"There are 4 criminal cases pending against Trump and the Dems/Biden are desperate to have one of them go to trial. Given their locations, convictions are almost certain regardless of the merits of the cases or the evidence."

The comments were first reported by Newsweek.

Trump is facing four criminal trials after being charged in the federal election interference case, the classified documents one, the Georgia racketeering case and the hush money investigation in New York.

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He has made multiple attempts to delay the cases, particularly the two federal ones being prosecuted by Jack Smith.

Currently, the federal election case is on hold while an appeals court considers Trump’s claim that the presidency makes him immune from criminal charges. Judge Aileen Cannon in the classified documents case has been openly criticized for dragging her feet in pre-trial hearings, though the trial is still scheduled for May.

The Georgia case is set to start in August, but is not expected to be concluded until after the election. The New York case is scheduled for March 25.

A New York University law professor also told Newsweek Trump will likely not be convicted before the election.

"We can only talk about probabilities,” said Stephen Gillers.

"A month ago, it was probable that the D.C. trial would go ahead in early March as planned, but the odd silence of the circuit court on the immunity claim changes that. On the other hand, the court might reject immunity and end the stay of district court proceedings tomorrow, which can enable a trial by early or late April.

"The Florida case was never likely to go to trial before Election Day. The judge does not seem eager to hold a trial and the defense motions have offered her ways to delay it."

"There is no reason to delay the New York State case, which could still meet its late March trial date if the trial in D.C. is pushed into May or June," he said. "So right now, pending further developments in D.C. and Georgia, it looks like the N.Y. case may go first and close to schedule. But I emphasize that the odds can change tomorrow."

Experts expect that, if Trump wins the election, he will either order his justice department to stop the federal prosecutions or pardon himself, though he would not be able to do that with the New York and Georgia cases.