Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump’s legal team has requested a judge in Georgia to dismiss two charges in the election case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Trump’s attorneys argued that the charges fall under federal, not state, jurisdiction and thus can only be prosecuted at the federal level, making the state’s case against the former president irrelevant.
BREAKING: Trump's Lawyers Launch New Attempt To Get Georgia Trial Dismis… https://t.co/UjEdPqbkps via @YouTube The lawyers for former President Trump and his co-defendants seek a dismissal in Fulton County court on First Amendment grounds.
— Robert Guzauskas (@RobertGuzauskas) April 3, 2024
The charges in question pertain to the alleged conspiracy to file false documents and the filing of false documents, both of which the lawyers claim directly impact the U.S. election at the federal level. They argue that such charges should be handled by federal officials, as the conduct falls under federal criminal law and pertains to the federal judiciary.
Trump’s legal team has also raised concerns about the lack of details and essential legal elements in the allegations made by prosecutors. In a previous ruling, Judge Scott McAfee threw out six charges from the indictment, citing a fatal lack of information. However, several charges were allowed to remain, with the possibility of prosecutors seeking a renewed indictment on the dismissed charges.
The former president has pleaded not guilty and accused the case of being a form of election interference aimed at damaging his chances of winning in 2024. Furthermore, Trump’s attorneys have alleged that the district attorney engaged in a secretive relationship with her former special counsel in the Trump case. Despite these allegations, the judge ruled that Ms. Willis could continue as the chief prosecutor.
In response to the attempts to disqualify her, Ms. Willis stated that the case against Trump and others is ongoing and that efforts to slow it down have not been successful. However, Trump’s legal team has appealed the judge’s decision not to disqualify Ms. Willis, arguing that her removal is necessary to ensure the fairness of the case.
The appeals court has yet to make a decision on taking up the appeal, and both Ms. Willis and Judge McAfee have expressed their intent to proceed with the case during the appeals process. The ongoing legal battle reflects the contentious nature of the charges brought against the former president, with both sides actively pursuing their objectives in the courtroom.
