Defendant in Trump election case pleads not guilty, seeks speedy trial.

Kenneth Chesebro Pleads Not Guilty in​ Georgia Election Racketeering Case

Kenneth Chesebro, along ⁤with⁤ former President Donald Trump⁣ and 17⁤ others, is facing a racketeering case ‍in Fulton County, Georgia. However, Chesebro has pleaded not guilty ⁤and has chosen to ⁤waive his right to appear in court for the arraignments on September 6th. You can view his plea here.

The charges against the 19 defendants stem from their ⁣actions to challenge the 2020 election results in Georgia. ‍Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis alleges that these actions constituted a “criminal racketeering‍ enterprise” and conspiracy. Chesebro, ‍who served ​as an attorney for⁣ President Trump during that time, played‌ a role in organizing the alternate ⁣slate of ⁢electors.

Chesebro’s lawyers recently filed a not guilty plea and responded to Willis’s insistence that ‌all ​defendants be tried ⁤together on October 23rd. They objected⁤ to the proposed timeline, ⁤arguing⁤ that it was retaliation for Chesebro’s request for a speedy trial. They claimed that Willis’s filing was an attempt ‍to‍ avoid complying with statutory discovery obligations.

Speedy Trial Timeline

After Chesebro requested a speedy‍ trial, ‍Willis proposed an October 23rd ‌trial ​date. However, Judge Scott McAfee ordered that this⁤ timeline would not ⁢be required ​for the other 18 defendants. Attorneys for President Trump, Ray Smith, and Sidney Powell have already ​filed motions‍ to sever ‌their cases from Chesebro’s, and others may do the same.

Willis filed ⁢a motion urging the court to try all 19 ⁤defendants together⁣ on October 23rd,​ arguing that Chesebro⁣ never filed a motion⁣ to ​sever his case. She also ‍requested that⁣ the judge inform the defendants of ‍the⁢ effects of their⁣ speedy trial demands, claiming that they⁣ would no longer be entitled to⁣ certain ‌rights and notices.

Chesebro’s ​lawyers argued that⁤ Willis misunderstood the statutory right to a speedy trial and cited case precedents erroneously. They emphasized‍ that ⁣discovery ‌must be provided 10 days before trial and ‍criticized the prosecution’s request to⁤ disregard the judge’s timeline.

The Georgia case has garnered significant attention due⁤ to its scale and profile. Legal experts have been closely ⁣following‍ the⁤ arguments presented by both the prosecution and defense in the 41-count indictment. This case ⁤is similar to the one President Trump ​will face in federal court in Washington, D.C. next March.

Many observers have‌ expressed skepticism about the rushed timelines proposed by Willis. The⁤ complexity of trying all 19 defendants together ​and accommodating their schedules ‌and legal teams has‍ raised doubts about the feasibility of her proposed timeline.