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☆ Georgia appeals court will hear Trump bid to disqualify D.A. Fani Willis in election case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Fani Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, photographed on Sept. 20, 2022, and former President Donald Trump, photographed on Aug. 8, 2023. A Georgia appeals court Wednesday agreed to hear a bid by Donald Trump to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the former president's criminal election interference case. Trump still faces 10 criminal counts in Willis' case. That order grants Trump's application to appeal McAfee's disqualification ruling while Willis' case is ongoing. The appeals court gave Trump 10 days to file the notice of appeal.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Scott McAfee, Willis, Trump, Joe Biden, Steve Sadow, Fulton County DA Willis, Nathan Wade, Wade, McAfee Organizations: Fulton, Trump, Fulton County, Georgia, McAfee, Trump —, NBC Locations: Fulton County , Georgia, Georgia, Fulton County, Georgia's

☆ Georgia Court Will Hear Appeal of Ruling That Kept Prosecutor on Trump Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Richard Fausset | More About Richard Fausset | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Georgia Court of Appeals will hear an appeal of a ruling that allowed Fani T. Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, to continue leading the prosecution of former President Donald J. Trump on charges related to election interference, the court announced on Wednesday. The decision to hear the appeal, handed down by a three-judge panel, is likely to further delay the Georgia criminal case against Mr. Trump and 14 of his allies, making it less likely that the case will go to trial before the November election. The terse three-sentence announcement reopens the possibility that Ms. Willis could be disqualified from the biggest case of her career, and one of the most significant state criminal cases in the nation’s history. At issue is a romantic relationship she had with Nathan Wade, a lawyer she hired to handle the prosecution of Mr. Trump. Defense lawyers argued that the relationship amounted to an untenable conflict of interest, and that Ms. Willis and her entire office should be removed from the case.

Persons: Fani, Willis, Donald J, Trump, Nathan Wade Organizations: Trump . Defense Locations: Georgia, Fulton County

☆ The judge in Trump's classified documents case just gave him exactly what he wanted — again
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Judge Aileen Cannon on Tuesday delayed Donald Trump's classified documents case indefinitely. AdvertisementUS District Judge Aileen Cannon handed former President Donald Trump yet another legal win when she delayed his classified documents case indefinitely on Tuesday. It's just the latest legal win for Trump in the classified documents case handed to him by Cannon. Ty Cobb, a former Trump White House attorney, told CNN on Tuesday that Cannon's latest decision was "a combination of bias and incompetence." In light of Cannon's latest delay, Kalir said it was not surprising given her prior actions on the case.

Persons: Aileen Cannon, Donald Trump's, It's, —, Donald Trump, Cannon, Trump, Jack Smith's, Canon, Katie Charleston, Justice Department —, Paula Reid, Judge Cannon, I'm, She's, aren't, Ty Cobb, galvanizes, Charlie Kolean, Kolean, Tre Lovell, it's, Doron Kalir, Fani Willis, Nathan Wade, Kalir Organizations: Trump, Service, Business, Justice Department, FBI, Mar, Appeals, Associated Press, Court, Trump White House, CNN, RED PAC, Cleveland State University College of Law Locations: Lago, Southern Florida, Trump's, South Florida, Georgia, New York

☆ Georgia appeals court says it will consider Trump’s effort to disqualify DA Fani Willis from election subversion case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Devan Cole | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Georgia Court of Appeals will consider an effort by Donald Trump and his co-defendants to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis from the 2020 election subversion case. In a brief order Wednesday, the court said it will hear the appeal from Trump and others challenging the ruling from Judge Scott McAfee that allowed Willis to remain on the case. No trial date has been set in the sprawling election subversion conspiracy case against Trump, and the decision to consider the appeal is another sign that pre-trial efforts to delay a trial are succeeding. Tuesday, a federal judge in Florida indefinitely postponed Trump’s trial on mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Willis testified that she paid Wade back for the expenses in cash.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Trump, Scott McAfee, Willis, Willis ’, Steve Sadow, “, Fulton County DA Willis, ”, Nathan Wade, Wade, McAfee, Weeks, McAfee’s, Willis “, flagrantly Organizations: CNN, Trump, Appeals, Fulton County Locations: Georgia, Florida, Lago, Fulton

☆ Why are 3 of Trump’s 4 criminal trials delayed indefinitely?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Trial date: Delayed indefinitely. On Tuesday, Cannon scratched the planned May trial date and did not pencil in a new one. Trial date: Delayed indefinitely. Trump’s effort to disqualify the prosecutor in Georgia continuesIndictment: August 14, 2023. Trial date: Delayed indefinitely.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Disproving, Trump, Aileen Cannon, Cannon, Jack Smith, Trump’s, Ty Cobb, CNN’s Erin Burnett, “, ” Cobb, Burnett, Cobb, ”, Smith, Fani Willis, shouldn’t, Judge Scott McAfee’s, Willis, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Michael Cohen, Cohen Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Archives, White, Court, Seal, The Georgia, Appeals, New Locations: New York, New York , Florida, Georgia, Washington, DC, Florida, Washington ,, Fulton County

☆ Trump's delay-delay-delay strategy is paying off
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A Georgia appeals court has given Donald Trump a win in the state's election-interference case. The appeals court agreed to consider Trump's bid to get the DA removed from the case. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump has scored another legal win that will likely delay one of his criminal trials. A Georgia appeals court on Wednesday agreed to consider Trump's bid to get the Fulton County district attorney, Fani Willis, disqualified from the state's 2020 election-interference case against Trump and his allies.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Fani Willis, Trump, Scott McAfee, Willis Organizations: Service, Fulton County Superior Court, Business Locations: Georgia, Fulton County

☆ Trump's Mar-a-Lago document trial has been delayed again. He now has a chance to dodge it entirely.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago documents trial has been delayed indefinitely. AdvertisementThe judge overseeing Donald Trump's criminal case over his holding onto secret government documents following his presidency delayed the trial indefinitely — giving him the chance to get rid of the charges if he wins the 2024 election. Another criminal case overseen by Smith, in a federal court in Washington, DC, was previously scheduled for March 4. In that case, Smith alleged Trump broke criminal laws through his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump's attorneys have also made immunity arguments in the classified documents case.

Persons: Donald Trump's Mar, It's, —, Donald Trump's, Aileen Cannon, Cannon —, Trump, Carlos de Oliveira, Waltine Nauta —, Jack Smith, de Oliveira, Trump's, Stormy Daniels, — Trump, Smith, MANDEL NGAN, Fani Willis, Juan Merchan, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Merchan, reconvene, Cannon Organizations: Trump, Service, Nauta, Republican, Justice Department, US, Getty Images Locations: Lago, Manhattan, Washington ,, AFP, Getty Images Fulton County, Georgia, York, Florida, New York

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis attends a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, March 1, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. A California man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on charges of threatening Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced Friday. The indictment detailed more threats Schultz made, including, "FANI WILLIS WILL BE DEAD IN 2024," and other threats using racial slurs. In a statement released by Willis' office, she referenced GOP state Sen. Bill Cowsert, who is leading an investigation of Willis' office. In March, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled Willis could continue prosecuting the case, but she and Wade could not work on it together.

Persons: Fani Willis, Willis, Nathan Wade, Donald Trump, Mark Schultz, Schultz, FANI WILLIS, Trump, Keri Farley, Sen, Bill Cowsert, Ryan Buchanan, Wade, Scott McAfee Organizations: U.S, Attorney's, Northern, Northern District of Georgia, Department of Justice, American, United States Attorney, FBI, African American, Trump Locations: Fulton County, Georgia, Atlanta , Georgia, U.S, California, Atlanta, Northern District, Chula Vista

Asked for proof of his claim that Mr. Biden was personally directing the local cases against him, Mr. Trump pointed to purported ties between prosecutors and “Washington,” but provided no evidence that Mr. Biden had been involved in any of the hiring decisions, conversations or meetings that Mr. Trump cited. The writer E. Jean Carroll filed her first lawsuit against Mr. Trump in November 2019, accusing him of defamation. Faulty and irrelevant comparisonsWhat Mr. Trump Said“I got indicted more than Al Capone.”— in a rally in Ohio in MarchFalse. Mr. Hur described Mr. Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” who had “diminished faculties and faulty memory.” He did not declare Mr. Biden mentally incompetent to stand trial. Inaccurate attacks on judgesWhat Mr. Trump Said“Judge Juan Merchan is totally compromised, and should be removed from this TRUMP Non-Case immediately.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, President Biden, Trump’s, ”, Trump Said “ Biden, General Merrick B, Garland, Trump “, Biden, Mr, Doug Mills, Trump Said, Jack Smith, Merrick Garland’s, Fani Willis, Letitia James, Alvin L, Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, —, James’s, Colangelo’s, Bragg ramped, Willis, Willis — Nathan J, Wade, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Kamala Harris, Harris, Crooked Joe Biden, James, Jean Carroll, Smith, Brittainy Newman, Alexei Navalny, Navalny, Letitia James ’, Hunt, PolitiFact, Trump Said “, Al Capone, Capone, Brad Schwartz, Hillary, Bill, Bush, Reagan, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, Bill Clinton’s, Taylor Branch, Branch, “, Barack Obama, George W, Bill Clinton, George H.W, Ronald Reagan, Robert K, Hur, Biden’s, Juan Merchan, Loren, Loren Merchan, Merchan, Merchan’s, Justice Merchan, Ahmed Gaber, Arthur F, Justice Engoron, Engoron Organizations: New York, Democratic Party, Trump, Justice Department, The New York Times, The, White House, Trump . Credit, New York Times, American People, Biden Administration, Prosecutors, Mr, Manhattan, Washington, Fox News, New, Times, White, Counsel’s Office, Supreme, Black, Trump Organization, Democrat, Companies, Exxon Mobil, Trump Foundation, Trump University, Associated, National Archives, Records Administration, TRUMP, Twitter, Credit Locations: Manhattan, Georgia, Trump ., Washington, New York, “ Washington, Fulton County ,, Russian, New, Ohio, Fla, South Carolina, Trump’s Florida, Beach

☆ Opinion: Trump trial isn’t a hush money case, but an election interference one
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Opinion Norman Eisen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

We should call it an “election interference” trial going forward. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass skillfully advanced the election interference theory by structuring his evidentiary points in chronological order within that frame. Trump’s alleged 2020 attempt to overthrow our government distorts perceptions of how serious the charges related to the 2016 election are. How can we call this an election interference trial, they ask, if the election was already over when the 34 alleged document falsification crimes occurred? It is an election interference one and we should say so.

Persons: Norman Eisen, “, Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Joshua Steinglass, Steinglass, Michael Cohen, David Pecker, Daniels, Cohen, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jack Smith, Fani Willis, Trump’s, Bragg Organizations: CNN, Trump, ”, American Media, National Enquirer, DA, Attorney, Fulton, Twitter Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Manhattan

Donald Trump is in court for his first criminal trial. It is the grimy, hot, and poorly lit location of the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president. Monday marked the start of jury selection, presided over by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan and expected to last up to two weeks. Just before the lunch break, Christopher Conroy, an assistant district attorney, accused Trump of violating the gag order. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump appears with his legal team at the start of jury selection in his criminal trial in New York City.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, —, Juan Merchan, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Michael Cohen, Merchan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Christopher Conroy, Conroy, Cohen, Stephanie Clifford, — Trump, Jabin, Melania Trump, Trump's, there's, Joe Biden, Jean Carroll, Lewis Kaplan, Jack Smith, Fani Willis Organizations: Service, Manhattan Supreme, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney, New, Yorkers, Republican, US, Trump Organization, Justice Locations: New York County, Manhattan, Merchan, New York, America, New York City, Jabin, Mar, Fulton County, Georgia

Donald Trump is in court for his first criminal trial. He stepped into Manhattan criminal court Monday morning, where jury selection will soon begin. It is the location of the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president. AdvertisementIn the hallway before walking into the courtroom, Trump criticized the case, telling journalists it was a "political persecution." Trump has been charged in three other criminal cases, none of which have firm trial dates yet.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Trump, Todd Blanche, Juan Merchan, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, there's, Joe Biden, Merchan, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, Jean Carroll, Lewis Kaplan, Jack Smith, Fani Willis Organizations: Service, Manhattan, Republican, Manhattan DA, US, New, Trump Organization, Justice Locations: Manhattan, York County, America, Merchan, New York, Mar, Fulton County, Georgia

☆ State prosecutor to investigate Georgia Lt. Gov. Jones and his role as Trump fake elector
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Sara Murray | Jason Morris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A state prosecutor will investigate whether Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones violated criminal law in his efforts to help former President Donald Trump subvert the 2020 election results in the state. Peter Skandalakis, director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, has appointed himself to investigate the matter, according to a news release. It took nearly two years for Skandalakis to announce his decision that he would appoint himself to spearhead a potential case against Jones. Jones told CNN in a written statement: “I’m happy to see this process move forward and look forward to the opportunity to get this charade behind me.

Persons: Burt Jones, Donald Trump, Peter Skandalakis, Jones, Fani Willis, Trump, Willis, Skandalakis, “ Organizations: CNN, Gov, ’, of, Republican, Trump, Peach State, Electoral College, Democrat Locations: Georgia, of Georgia, Fulton County, Fulton

For much of this year, the high-profile case took a detour as Mr. Trump and his co-defendants sought to disqualify Ms. Willis, claiming that her romantic relationship with Nathan J. But last month, Judge Scott McAfee of Fulton Superior Court ruled that an actual conflict of interest did not exist. He allowed Ms. Willis to keep the case, though only if Mr. Wade stepped aside to resolve an “appearance of impropriety.” Mr. Wade resigned after the ruling. Lawyers for Mr. Trump and other defendants have asked the Georgia Court of Appeals to reverse the decision. The court, which leans conservative, has until mid-May to decide whether to take up the matter.

Persons: Willis, Donald J, Trump, Nathan J, Wade, Scott McAfee, Mr Organizations: Trump, Fulton Superior Court, Mr Locations: Fulton County ,, Fulton, Georgia

☆ Trump loses bid to dismiss Georgia election interference case on free speech grounds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A judge on Thursday denied an effort by Donald Trump to dismiss his criminal election interference case in Georgia on grounds that the indictment violates his free speech rights. "Even core political speech addressing matters of public concern is not impenetrable from prosecution if allegedly used to further criminal activity," McAfee wrote. The defendants argued that their speech about Georgia's 2020 election results was political and that they cannot be prosecuted for making even false political statements. But the charges do not hinge solely on whether their election claims were true or false, McAfee wrote. "The allegations that the Defendants' speech or conduct was carried out with criminal intent are something only a jury can resolve."

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Joe Biden, Scott McAfee, McAfee Organizations: U.S, Atlanta Hartsfield, Jackson International, Fulton County Superior Locations: Fulton County, Atlanta , Georgia, Georgia

A gag order against one of Trump’s biggest foes could score political points and help him and his co-defendants in the short term. Then, McAfee appeared to suggest a gag order may be necessary. “I don’t know a reason to have a gag order right now,” Parker told CNN. The former president already faces a gag order in his criminal hush money case that’s headed to trial later this month in New York. And several other defendants in the Georgia case, including former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former Georgia GOP Chairman David Shafer, have offered commentary on the case and Willis on social media.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Willis, juggles, Trump, Scott McAfee, ” Willis, McAfee, Nathan Wade, Wade, Wade’s, ”, I’ve, ” McAfee, Willis ’, Steve Sadow, Michael J, Moore, ” Moore, they’ve, Buddy Parker, John Eastman, hasn’t, ” Parker, “, ” Willis ’, ‘, ’ ” McAfee, Rudy Giuliani, David Shafer Organizations: CNN, Trump, McAfee, Middle, Georgia GOP, gander Locations: Georgia, Atlanta, Fulton County, Middle District, Trump, “, New York, we’re

CNN —Former President Donald Trump was dealt two major setbacks Thursday in his efforts to derail the criminal cases against him, with judges in the Georgia election interference case and in the federal classified documents case both rejecting bids by the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee to have those cases thrown out. Trump has made similar presidential immunity arguments in the Georgia case and in the classified documents case. She wrote that prosecutors “make no reference to the Presidential Records Act” in the indictment against Trump and did not “rely” on the statute to bring charges. McAfee’s ruling is the latest step inching the state racketeering case against Trump forward. McAfee’s refusal to scrap the indictment comes as the free speech defense has repeatedly fallen short in pretrial wrangling in election meddling cases.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Jack Smith, –, Trump, Aileen Cannon, “, Cannon, ”, Scott McAfee, Willis, ” McAfee, McAfee, Tanya Chutkan, Steve Sadow, Smith, Trump’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, White, Records, Presidential, Circuit, Peach State, McAfee, National Archives, Prosecutors Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, New York, York, Washington ,, Florida, Atlanta, Peach

☆ Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric has been effective for him so far but poses real danger
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

In some ways, this is classic behavior from Trump and follows multiple previous social media threats to judges, political opponents and anyone who angers him. Trump’s attacks on the judiciary play into the foundation of his political career — that he’s a rebel outsider tearing down a political system his supporters believe disdains them. In itself, the tape is an affront to the legal system and the judiciary. If the principle were applied to its full extent, it could destroy the nonpartisan legal system. In his “State of the Union” interview Sunday, Lawler, an up-and-coming New York Republican, demonstrated how Trump’s rhetoric overshadows his party.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, president’s, Joe Biden, Trump’s, Judge Juan Merchan, Trump, “ I’ve, Donald Trump, ”, LaDoris Cordell, CNN’s Omar Jimenez, Biden, CNN’s Dana, Mike Lawler, Walton’s, Reggie Walton, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Walton, they’re, we’re, George Bush, George W, Bush, “, ” Walton, Cordell, ’ ”, Merchan, Tanya Chutkan, he’s, Fani Willis, Letitia James, John Roberts, Clinton, autocrats, Michael Tyler, —, ” Trump, Steven Cheung, Lawler, ” Lawler, CNN’s Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Trump, Superior Court, Republican Party, GOP, Union, Sunday, Republican, Capitol, Prosecutors, New York, Trump Organization, Capitol Police, New York Republican Locations: York, California, “ State, New York, America, Washington ,, Fulton County, Georgia

☆ Trump asks appeals court to review ruling allowing Fani Willis to remain on Georgia election case
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former President Donald Trump and other defendants accused of illegally trying to interfere in the 2020 election in Georgia on Friday submitted a formal application to appeal a judge's ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to remain on the case. McAfee's ruling said Willis could continue her prosecution if Wade left the case, and the special prosecutor resigned hours later. Lawyers for Trump and other defendants then asked McAfee to allow them to appeal his ruling to the Georgia Court of Appeals, and he granted that request. The filing of an application with the appeals court is the next step in that process. The Court of Appeals now has 45 days to decide whether it will take up the matter.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Trump, Willis, Nathan Wade, Scott McAfee, McAfee's, Wade, McAfee, Wade upended, Democrat Joe Biden, Georgia's Organizations: Fulton County Government Center, Trump, of Appeals, Republican, Democrat Locations: Fulton County, Atlanta , Georgia, Georgia

CNN —Former President Donald Trump and several of his co-defendants in the Georgia election subversion case are appealing a judge’s ruling that let Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis remain on the election subversion case. The defense attorneys on Friday asked the Georgia Court of Appeals to overturn Judge Scott McAfee’s initial decision that allowed Willis and her office continue to pursue the case but only if Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor with whom she had a romantic relationship, resigned. While Wade has since left the case, defense attorneys still want the appellate court to disqualify the entire Fulton County DA’s office. “DA Willis has covered herself and her office in scandal and disrepute, as she has squandered her credibility and repeatedly and flagrantly violated the heightened ethical standards demanded of her position,” the appeal states. However, the judge added, “Georgia law does not permit the finding of an actual conflict for simply making bad choices – even repeatedly.”The district attorney’s office declined to comment.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Judge Scott McAfee’s, Willis, Nathan Wade, Wade, Trump, “ DA Willis, flagrantly, McAfee, ” McAfee, CNN’s Devan Cole Organizations: CNN, Trump Locations: Georgia, Fulton, Fulton County

☆ Trump and Allies Appeal Ruling That Allowed Georgia Prosecutor to Keep Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Richard Fausset | Danny Hakim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump and eight of his co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case asked an appeals court on Friday to take up their challenge of a judge’s ruling that allowed the prosecutor Fani T. Willis to stay on the case. With their application to appeal, the defendants are once again pressing their argument that Ms. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, created an untenable conflict of interest by having a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case. The presiding judge in the criminal case, Scott McAfee of Fulton County Superior Court, had already given the defendants permission to pursue their appeal after he ruled against the efforts to disqualify Ms. Willis. But under Georgia law, the co-defendants must also secure the approval of the Georgia Court of Appeals before the matter can be heard by a panel of three appellate judges.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Fani, Willis, Scott McAfee Organizations: Fulton County Superior Court Locations: Georgia, Fulton County

ATLANTA (AP) — The charges against former President Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case seek to criminalize political speech and advocacy conduct that the First Amendment protects, his lawyers argued in a court filing challenging the indictment. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee plans to hear arguments on that filing and on two pretrial motions filed by former Georgia Republican Party chair David Shafer during a hearing set for Thursday. Lawyers for Shafer argue that he acted legally when he and other state Republicans signed a certificate asserting that Trump won the 2020 presidential election in Georgia and declaring themselves the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors. McAfee is forging ahead with the case even as Trump and other defendants have said they plan to seek a ruling from the Georgia Court of Appeals to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis. The charges against him include impersonating a public officer, forgery, false statements and writings, and attempting to file false documents.

Persons: Donald Trump, Scott McAfee, David Shafer, Shafer, Trump, “, McAfee, Fani Willis, Willis, Nathan Wade, Democrat Joe Biden, Brad Raffensperger, ”, Prosecutors, Biden, Shafer “, ” Willis, Wade Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Republican, Republicans, Trump, Republican, Democrat, Georgia Republicans, Georgia House, Georgia, Electoral, Democratic, Prosecutors Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Raffensperger

☆ Trump is just 3 weeks from becoming the first ex-president to go on trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Yet the moment that history is likely to remember most clearly unfolded in a Manhattan courtroom where Trump sat seething as a judge thwarted his latest delaying tactics and set a date for his hush money trial. Of course, it’s also possible that Trump could be acquitted in this criminal case. It is a mark of the depth of Trump’s legal hole that a reduced requirement to post a bond worth $175 million counts as a big win. Already clashing with another judgeTurning to Judge Juan Merchan, who took the gloss off of the ex-president’s day by scheduling the trial date, Trump issued another bitter complaint. Trump’s looming criminal trial presents a challenge and an opportunity for the Biden campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump staved, Trump, it’s, Stormy Daniels, isn’t, ” Trump, ”, he’d, he’ll, Arthur Engoron, Letitia James, “, Juan Merchan, Attorney Alvin Bragg, ” Ryan Goodman, CNN’s Erica Hill, Jack, Fani Willis, Willis, Aileen Cannon, Biden, Nikki Haley, she’s, Joe Biden, Trump’s, “ Donald Trump, James Singer, Donald Trump, –, Merchan, ” Merchan Organizations: CNN, Trump, New York, ”, Manhattan, Attorney, Department of Defense, Fulton, GOP, South Carolina Gov, Biden, Arab American, Israel, Engoron, Monday Locations: Manhattan, New York, Fulton County, Georgia, Lago, Florida, Trump, Atlanta, Michigan, Gaza, York

☆ Fulton County DA Fani Willis says ‘the train is coming’ for Trump and his co-defendants
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Jaide Timm-Garcia | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said Saturday that “the train is coming,” referring to her team’s preparation for the case against former President Donald Trump and his 14 co-defendants and whether she was slowed down by attempts to remove her from the case. I do think there are efforts to slow down this train, but the train is coming,” she said while attending an Atlanta-area Easter basket giveaway. On Wednesday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee granted requests from Trump and his co-defendants to appeal the decision to allow Willis to continue prosecuting the case. Willis said she doesn’t feel as though she needs to rehabilitate her reputation with Fulton County residents, adding, “I’m not embarrassed by anything I’ve done. And as long as I’m here, I’m going to try to do the job in a way that’s honorable.”CNN’s Jason Morris and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Willis, ”, We’re, ” Willis, Scott McAfee, Trump, Nathan Wade, Saturday, “, “ I’m, I’m, Wade, I’ve, ” CNN’s Jason Morris, Zachary Cohen Organizations: CNN, Trump, Chapel United Methodist Church Locations: Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia

☆ Trump and co-defendants re-up their efforts to disqualify DA Fani Willis
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Jason Morris | Zachary Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

If he approves the request, the Georgia Court of Appeals would decide whether to take up the matter. McAfee concluded that if Willis stayed, Wade had to step down in order to dispel the “cloud of impropriety” created by their romantic relationship. Wade, who has testified that his romantic relationship with Willis is over, resigned after the ruling was issued on Friday. Willis and Wade’s relationship was thrust into the spotlight in January when co-defendant Mike Roman filed a motion to disqualify Willis over allegations of an “improper” relationship with Wade, whom she hired in 2021. Trump and his co-defendants wanted the judge to disqualify Willis’ team from the case – or throw out the charges – because of a possible conflict of interest.

Persons: Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Scott McAfee’s, Willis, Steve Sadow, Trump’s, Sadow, “, ” McAfee, Trump, Nathan Wade, McAfee, Wade, ”, Mike Roman, Willis ’, –, Jack Forrest Organizations: CNN, State of, Trump Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, State of Georgia

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