Accompanying this article is the police booking mugshot of Kenneth Chesebro, a former campaign attorney for U.S. President Donald Trump. Released by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in Atlanta on August 23, 2023.
Image Source: Fulton County Sheriff’s Office
On Thursday, a Georgia judge scheduled the first trial for one of former President Donald Trump’s co-defendants in the criminal interference case related to the state’s 2020 election. The trial is set to begin on October 23.
The co-defendant, Kenneth Chesebro, had filed a request for a speedy trial in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Responding to the request, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis asked the judge to set October 23 as the trial date for Trump, Chesebro, and the other 17 defendants.
However, only Chesebro, who is an attorney, will begin trial on that day based on the new order issued by Judge Scott McAfee in Fulton County Superior Court.
Chesebro’s lawyers have stated that he is prepared to proceed with the trial on any date set by the court.
McAfee’s order sets an extremely fast timeline for Chesebro’s case prior to the trial.
Chesebro, Trump, and the other defendants were indicted by a grand jury on August 14. Prosecutors have accused them of being involved in a widespread criminal operation aimed at overturning Trump’s defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
Typically, it takes months, if not longer, for a criminal case to go to trial, especially one involving a former U.S. president and numerous co-defendants.
When Willis requested October 23 as the trial date for all defendants, Trump’s lawyer opposed the request in court. Trump’s attorney also stated an intention to separate his case from Chesebro’s and any other co-defendant who seeks a speedy trial.
McAfee’s order for Chesebro’s trial was issued while Trump was on his way to an Atlanta jail for processing.
The judge has scheduled Chesebro’s arraignment for September 9, and the exchange of evidence between prosecutors and his lawyers must be completed by September 20.
Chesebro was previously arrested and released on $100,000 bond on Wednesday.
He is facing seven felony charges, including violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, conspiracy to impersonate a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree (two counts), conspiracy to commit false statements and writings (two counts), and conspiracy to file false documents.
Chesebro devised a plan where Trump supporters would act as electors and cast electoral votes for him in states he had lost to President Joe Biden, including Georgia.
Typically, only the candidate who wins an individual state can receive electoral votes for that state in the Electoral College.
The purpose of this plan was to raise doubts about the legitimacy of Biden’s victory and provide Vice President Mike Pence and Republicans in Congress with a supposed reason to reject Biden’s electors.
This plan failed when Pence refused to support it.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
