Staff Reports
In a surprising turn of events, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is facing setbacks in her case against former President Donald Trump in Georgia. The attempt to jointly prosecute Trump along with his 18 co-defendants has hit a roadblock. This is surely a blow to Willis and her office as they had hoped to bring all 19 defendants to trial at once.
But that’s not all. Prosecutors have also announced their intention to reveal the names of 30 unindicted co-conspirators to the defense teams of the defendants. This decision could have significant implications for the case as a whole.
ABC News brought in their editorial producer John Santucci to analyze the situation. Santucci didn’t hold back, stating, “Fani Willis wasn’t there, but you’ve got to imagine, Diane, she’s throwing things against the wall based on this hearing.” Ouch. It seems like it’s not a favorable day for the Fulton County District Attorney’s office.
To top it all off, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has ruled that the case against Trump will not happen as scheduled in October. He granted motions from Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell to separate their cases from the other co-defendants. These two will now have their cases tried together starting on October 23rd. This ruling is a major disappointment for Willis, who wanted to keep all 19 defendants in one trial.
ABC Analyst Explains Why Judge's Ruling In Fulton County Is A 'Great Win' For Trumphttps://t.co/Oee7bAgSHC
— FFT1776™ Fight for Truth & Justice (@FFT1776) September 14, 2023
Judge McAfee made it clear that trying all 19 defendants in one courtroom was simply not feasible. He said, “The Fulton County Courthouse simply contains no courtroom adequately large enough to hold all 19 defendants, their multiple attorneys and support staff, the sheriff’s deputies, court personnel, and the State’s prosecutorial team.” It seems like Willis had overreached with her ambitious case.
On top of all this, Willis is also facing requests from at least five co-defendants, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, to have their cases moved to federal jurisdiction. While Meadows’s first attempt was denied, his case is still ongoing in the appeals court. If any defendant succeeds in moving to federal court, it could jeopardize the entire prosecution strategy of DA Willis.
It’s clear that things are not going well for the Fulton County District Attorney’s office. Not only is their case against Trump being delayed, but they are also facing challenges from the co-defendants and the possibility of federal jurisdiction. It’s no wonder that House Republicans and local lawmakers in Georgia are looking into Willis’s actions and even considering impeachment. Trump himself has vowed to support his fellow co-defendants, promising to raise millions of dollars for their defense. The plot thickens in this high-profile case.
