Washington/UNI: Former US President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that he will testify in his own defense if the criminal case against him proceeds to trial.

“Oh, yes, absolutely,” Trump said during an interview with Hugh Hewitt, when asked if he would testify at a trial against him. “I look forward to testifying," Trump replied.

Trump is accused of mishandling secret information and attempting to rig the 2020 US presidential election, among other charges, in four state and federal indictments.

Trump has denied the charges against him, referring to the cases as a political witch hunt and election interference.

Trump currently leads the pack of Republican presidential hopefuls in primary polling despite the unresolved criminal charges.

Last month, US district judge Tanya Chutkan set a trial date of March 4, 2024 for the 2020 election case.

The date is just one day before so-called Super Tuesday, on which more than a dozen states hold primaries for the 2024 US presidential election.

Trump has said he will appeal the scheduled trial date.