Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is seeking an emergency protective order after confidential video recordings of key witnesses in her election interference case against former President Donald Trump were leaked to two news outlets. The videos include statements from lawyers Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro and bail bondsman Scott Hall, with Ellis saying a senior White House official insisted Trump had no plans to leave office despite losing the election. Willis's office believes the leak was intended to intimidate witnesses and is now seeking an emergency protective order to prevent further disclosure.
Posts tagged as “Fulton County”
Jenna Ellis, a senior legal adviser to former President Donald Trump's 2020 campaign, has pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings. In exchange for her plea, Ellis will receive five years of probation and have to pay $5,000 in restitution to the state. Former President Trump has distanced himself from Ellis, with his campaign releasing a statement saying she was never a part of the campaign's legal team. This plea agreement is the latest development in the ongoing investigation into alleged efforts to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election.
Kenneth Chesebro, a former legal adviser to Donald Trump's campaign, has pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to file false documents in the Fulton County, Georgia, district attorney's office's 2020 election interference case. He has agreed to testify against any and all co-defendants and to turn over any related emails and text messages. Chesebro is the second defendant to reach a plea deal in the past two days, and the case is ongoing with no other plea deals announced so far.
Sidney Powell, former attorney for Donald Trump, pleaded guilty in the Georgia election interference case on Thursday. As part of the plea deal, she will serve six years of probation, pay a $6,000 fine and $2,700 in restitution, and submit an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia. Powell will also testify truthfully against her co-defendant, Kenneth Chesebro, who is still scheduled to stand trial on April 19. This marks the end of the legal saga surrounding Powell and her alleged involvement in the 2020 election.
Scott Hall, one of the 19 defendants charged in the Fulton County, Georgia case regarding alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties in court on Friday. He was sentenced to five years' probation, a $5,000 fine and 200 hours of community service, and must testify truthfully at any further court proceedings. The other defendants in the case are scheduled to appear in court on June 17, and the outcome of the case is yet to be seen.
A federal judge in Atlanta has denied a motion by former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark to move his case related to the 2020 presidential election from state court in Georgia to federal court. Clark is charged with two counts as part of a racketeering case stemming from an alleged effort to subvert the election results. The ruling is a setback for Clark and the other defendants, who had hoped to have their cases heard in federal court, and will mean that Clark will be prosecuted in state court in Fulton County. The ruling is part of a larger effort by the Georgia Attorney General’s office to investigate election fraud and other crimes related to the 2020 election.
Former President Donald Trump has decided not to pursue a relocation of his criminal election interference case in Georgia to federal court, citing his confidence that the Georgia courts will provide him with a fair trial and due process. The case stems from a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in January, in which he was charged with two felonies. Trump's lawyers have argued for dismissal, but Judge McAfee has yet to rule on the motion.
Judge Scott McAfee of Fulton County, Georgia has issued an order to protect the identities of jurors in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants. The order prohibits the drawing or recording of images, statements, or conversations of jurors or prospective jurors, and restricts the use of photographic or electronic equipment without a judge’s consent. It also requires that jurors and prospective jurors be identified only by their initials and juror numbers. The order is intended to ensure that jurors can remain anonymous and safe throughout the proceedings.