Trump Pushes For Separate Trial In Georgia Case As Co-Defendants Seek Trial In Just Two Months

Topline

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday asked a judge to sever his election interference case in Georgia from two of his co-defendants who demanded a trial in October, as the former president looks to stave off a high-profile trial in the midst of the 2024 presidential election cycle.

Former President Donald Trump asked for his case in Fulton County, Georgia, be severed from … [+] co-defendants seeking a speedy trial.

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Key Facts

Trump argued in a court filing that a speedy trial would impose “adverse procedural and substantive effects,” with his legal team arguing it “will not have sufficient time to prepare” for a scheduled October trial date set for former Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, one of Trump’s 18 co-defendants who demanded a speedy trial.

Former Trump attorney Sidney Powell, another co-defendant in the case, had also demanded a speedy trial last week, even after Trump sought to delay the trial until after the 2024 election, and as a group of former Trump lawyers and aides—including the former president’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows—pushed for the case to be moved to federal court.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had previously requested an October 23 trial start date for all 19 defendants, including Trump.

Chief Critic

Trump, who announced his 2024 presidential bid late last year, has slammed prosecutors for bringing charges more than two years after the 2020 election, claiming the case is a mark of “election interference.” The former president’s legal team also opposes an expedited trial and last week filed a motion in opposition to Chesebro’s request for a speedy trial.

News Peg

Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges in the Fulton County case Thursday morning, one week after surrendering to authorities in Georgia. Trump was charged by a Fulton County grand jury earlier this month with 13 felony counts, including racketeering, conspiracy to impersonate a public official, solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer and conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree.

Big Number

76.5. That’s how many years behind bars Trump could face if convicted and ordered to serve the maximum sentence on all 13 counts—though criminal defendants usually get well below the maximum.

What To Watch For

Chesebro’s trial date, which Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee set last week for October 23. Chesebro, who is slated for a September 6 arraignment, is one of a group of former Trump attorneys linked to a dubious so-called fake electors plot to overturn the results of Trump’s 2020 loss to President Joe Biden.