First televised Georgia RICO court hearing features two Trump co-defendants.
A Fulton County Judge to Hear Arguments for Severing Cases in Trump Indictment
A highly anticipated hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Fulton County, where Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro will present their arguments for separating their cases from the other 17 co-defendants named in the indictment against former President Donald Trump in Georgia.
This groundbreaking hearing, which will be streamed live on Judge Scott McAfee’s YouTube page, offers the public a unique opportunity to witness courtroom proceedings remotely.
Lawmakers Return to Capitol Hill with a Ticking Clock and a Hefty To-Do List
Powell and Chesebro, who both requested speedy trials and were granted October 23 start dates, are seeking to have their cases tried independently. They have petitioned Judge McAfee to consider their motions.
In his hearing notice, Judge McAfee has requested Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to provide a “good-faith estimate” of the time it would take to present the case for all co-defendants if they were tried together.
As per Judge McAfee’s order, Willis will also disclose an estimate of the number of witnesses and exhibits she plans to present in the case.
This hearing replaces what was initially a busy day of arraignments. However, all defendants have now filed waivers for their arraignment appearances and pleaded not guilty to their charges.
Last month, Willis charged all 19 defendants with racketeering violations and other felonies, alleging their involvement in illegal efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
Some of the co-defendants, including former chief of staff Mark Meadows, have filed to move their cases from state to federal court, which could offer certain advantages to their defense teams.
If the trial were to take place in federal court, jury selection would involve a wider and potentially more conservative pool of jurors. Additionally, a federal judge would preside over the trial, and federal courtroom rules would likely apply, meaning the proceedings would not be televised.
A ruling on Meadows’s removal case is expected soon, and it will serve as a signal to others, including Trump, who have either requested or plan to request removal.
While Wednesday’s hearing will primarily address Powell’s and Chesebro’s motions for severance, it is just one of many motions filed from various angles in this complex case.
In addition to requests for removal and speedy trials, Trump himself has filed a motion for severance, arguing against an October trial due to insufficient time for his legal team to prepare.
Willis, on the other hand, intends to try all 19 co-defendants together in October, and her prosecutors will present their case for this during Wednesday’s hearing.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
Click here to read more from The Washington Examiner.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
