Georgia Election Interference Case Against Trump Stalled a Year Later

ATLANTA (AP) — A year after a grand jury in Georgia indicted Donald Trump and others for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the state, the case remains at a standstill with no trial anticipated before the end of this year.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis secured the indictment on this date last year, which marked the fourth and most extensive criminal case against the former president. Trump narrowly lost Georgia to Democrat Joe Biden, leading Willis to employ the state’s anti-racketeering laws to accuse him and 18 co-defendants of participating in a broad scheme to undermine the will of Georgia voters.

Initially, Willis’ team celebrated some early successes in the case. However, significant allegations from one of Trump’s co-defendants earlier this year have introduced delays that could potentially impede the prosecution.

The indictment itself is expansive, spanning nearly 100 pages and presenting 41 criminal counts against Trump and 18 other individuals. Noteworthy figures in the indictment alongside Trump include his former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and conservative attorney Sidney Powell.

Each defendant faces charges under Georgia’s anti-racketeering law, with the indictment detailing 161 alleged acts that support these accusations. Prosecutors claim that various individuals engaged in distinct unlawful activities to achieve a shared objective — contesting Trump’s electoral defeat.

Among the charges presented are those related to a contentious phone call on January 2, 2021, between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, during which Trump pressed Raffensperger to “find” the necessary votes for his victory. Other allegations include orchestrating false declarations of victory by a group of Republican electors, harassment of a Georgia election worker, and improper access to voting equipment in a southern Georgia county.

In March, the judge overseeing the case dismissed six counts in the indictment, including three against Trump, citing a lack of sufficient detail provided by the prosecutors regarding these charges. Willis’s team has appealed this ruling.

Trump’s booking in Atlanta last August to address these charges led to an unprecedented moment: the first mug shot of a former president in U.S. history. After a brief booking process, Trump was released on bond. Though all defendants were required to go through the booking process, they opted to waive their initial court appearances. Despite his legal team’s active involvement in numerous hearings over the past year, Trump has not yet appeared in a Georgia courtroom.

In the months following the indictment, some defendants entered into plea agreements. Four individuals charged alongside Trump admitted guilt to lesser charges. Bail bondsman Scott Hall pleaded guilty in September, stemming from accusations of involvement in the unauthorized access of election equipment in Coffee County.

The very next month, Sidney Powell and attorney Kenneth Chesebro both reached plea deals. Powell faced similar accusations regarding the breach of election equipment, while Chesebro aided in planning the false elector scheme. Their pleas came just before their trial was scheduled to begin. Shortly afterward, attorney Jenna Ellis, known for her vocal support of Trump’s 2020 campaign, tearfully admitted guilt as well.

Troubling allegations emerged in early January when Michael Roman’s attorney claimed that DA Willis had inappropriately engaged in a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the lead prosecutor for the case. The filing alleged this situation created a conflict of interest, leading to demands for Willis’s removal from the case. While both acknowledged the relationship, they maintained that their expenses were split.

This revelation led to a dramatic court hearing, where private details about their relationship were aired publicly. Judge Scott McAfee reprimanded Willis for poor judgment but ultimately did not agree that it warranted her removal from the case, as long as Wade withdrew from prosecuting it, which he did shortly after.

Trump and other defendants have since appealed McAfee’s decision, and this appeal is currently pending review by the Georgia Court of Appeals. Arguments are set to be heard in December, with a ruling expected by mid-March. The appellate court has instructed Judge McAfee to refrain from any further actions in the case while the appeal is under consideration.

What lies ahead in this legal struggle is uncertain. Regardless of the forthcoming ruling from the Court of Appeals, the losing party will likely seek the Georgia Supreme Court’s input, which would prolong the case further.

The upcoming general election in November, in which Trump is the Republican nominee for president, adds another layer of unpredictability. Even if the appellate courts uphold the prosecution’s position, it seems unlikely that Willis could advance legal actions against Trump should he win back the presidency.

Further complicating matters, the U.S. Supreme Court decided last month that former presidents enjoy absolute immunity from prosecution for actions taken within their “exclusive sphere of constitutional authority.” This ruling implies that while they are not shielded for unofficial conduct, Trump’s legal team has already filed motions arguing that presidential immunity should apply in this case. If prosecution resumes, his lawyers will certainly cite this ruling to support a dismissal of the charges.