Trump lawyer: Georgia trial before November would be election interference

The former president’s lawyers donald trump in the case of subversion of the 2020 elections in Georgia defended their client for the first time in a Fulton County court on Friday, making arguments seeking to have the charges dismissed on First Amendment grounds.

During the motions hearing before Judge Scott McAfee, Trump’s lawyers also reiterated their opposition to an August 2024 trial date, saying they prefer that the former president not be tried while he is campaigning.

Steven Sadow, Trump’s lead attorney in the sprawling Fulton County racketeering case, He objected to prosecutors requesting an August 2024 trial date.

Sadow stated that if Trump wins the Republican nomination and must be tried in the weeks leading up to Election Day 2024, It would be “electoral interference.”

Nathan Wade, special prosecutor leading the case, he strongly rejected Sadow’s claim.

“This trial does not constitute electoral interference. This is a breakthrough in business in Fulton County,” Wade said. “I don’t think this in any way impedes defendant Trump’s ability to campaign.”

Lawyers too They criticized the impeachment against Trump as a violation of free speech.

Trump’s lawyers presented their arguments at an all-day hearing in Atlanta that also featured arguments from lawyers for some of the 14 other defendants besides Trump.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee held the hearing for address a series of pretrial motions, such as the possible trial date, attempts to dismiss the charges and discovery issues.

McAfee did not issue any court rulings during the roughly six-hour hearing.

This was the first court appearance for Trump’s legal team in the Georgia case, where he and 14 others face a host of state charges, including racketeering or RICO charges, for their attempts to overturn the 2020 election. They They have pleaded not guilty.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen charges in the sprawling racketeering case brought against him and 18 of his allies in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia.

Four defendants have since accepted plea deals in the case. The judge presiding over the case has not yet set a trial date.

With information from CNN, The Washington Post and ABC News

Keep reading:

– Trump loses in court and could face lawsuits for inciting violence against the Capitol
–Nevada and Arizona investigate Trump’s interference in the 2020 election and there is an important witness
– Former Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty in Georgia election interference case

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