Fulton County DA requests October 2023 trial for Trump case.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is pushing for a ‍speedy trial for all 19⁢ defendants involved in a racketeering case related to the 2020 election results. She wants ⁢the trial​ to begin in ‌just two months.

This updated timeline ⁢proposal comes after defendant Kenneth Chesebro demanded a “speedy trial” by filing a⁤ motion. Chesebro, who voluntarily surrendered earlier this week and‍ was released on $100,000 bond, is one of the highest-profile defendants in the‌ case, along with former President Donald‍ Trump and Rudy Giuliani.

Willis had initially set a ‌trial date‍ for March 4, 2024, but critics argued that it was rushed ‌and politically motivated. Now, ⁤she is requesting a trial ​date of October 23, 2023, which falls within the “next succeeding regular court term.” Attorneys ‌for seven of the defendants have already been notified.

The trial date will ultimately be decided by a judge and could be impacted by a potential removal of the case to federal court. Defendants Mark Meadows, David Shafer, and Jeffrey Clark have filed notices ‌of⁣ removal, claiming ‌immunity as high-ranking federal officials. President Trump’s attorneys are also considering the option of removal.

It’s worth​ noting that ​a state conviction cannot be pardoned by a president, which has been pointed out by many observers following this case.

“Mr. Chesebro will be prepared to move forward with trial for whatever date the Court ultimately sets,” said his attorney Scott Grubman.

7 Counts

Chesebro, an attorney, is facing seven counts, including violating⁣ Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt⁣ Organizations (RICO) Act. Willis alleges that the defendants’ efforts to cast⁤ alternate ballots constituted a “criminal racketeering enterprise.”

The indictment lists several actions by Chesebro‌ that furthered the conspiracy, such as receiving emails about submitting electoral votes,⁤ corresponding about alternate​ electors in other states, and providing documents for use⁣ by alternate electors. It also mentions a meeting where⁢ the possibility of Chesebro meeting with elector nominees in Wisconsin was discussed.

The ‍indictment also includes Chesebro’s email to Giuliani outlining strategies‍ to delay the vote counting‌ on January 6, 2021. Multiple emails between Chesebro, Giuliani, and Eastman, another attorney, discuss the validity of various paths ⁢to using alternate electors.

Potential‍ Removal

Meadows and Clark have argued that, as high-ranking federal officials, they are ‍immune to state criminal proceedings. Shafer, a former chair of the Republican Party of Georgia and an alternate elector, claims his role was legitimized ⁣by ⁣an act of Congress, making him a federal officer. Giuliani, who was serving as Trump’s attorney, ⁢is also ⁣planning to file a notice of removal, arguing that he was acting as a federal officer.

Giuliani had previously‌ criticized Willis’s proposed six-month timeline‌ for the trial, stating that RICO cases he tried in the past took longer.