Staff Reports
A Georgia judge has criticized prosecutors in the Fulton County District Attorney’s office for their unrealistic plans to rush the prosecution of former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants in just under 50 days. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee expressed doubts about the feasibility of handling all 19 defendants within such a tight timeframe, particularly considering the testimony of 150 witnesses, which would extend the trials indefinitely. McAfee’s comments came during a hearing for Trump’s former attorneys, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro.
The prosecutors, led by District Attorney Fani Willis, maintain that their estimate of 40-something days is accurate, even without factoring in the time it would take to select a jury. However, their approach neglects the potential for the defendants to seek intervention from a federal court, potentially prolonging the legal process. A recent hearing in federal court saw former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows argue that the alleged transgressions occurred within the scope of his federal duties, challenging Willis’s jurisdiction.
Judge McAfee pointed out that it could take up to six months for the 11th Circuit, the Atlanta-based federal appeals court, to reach a decision on the matter. This suggests that the timeline proposed by the prosecutors is highly unlikely. Lawyers representing President Trump argue that the October 23rd start date will not allow them enough time to prepare a proper defense. Meanwhile, Powell and Chesebro have requested to begin their cases in October.
🚨 JUST IN: Fulton County Judge Expresses Doubt On Willis' Timetable: 'Seems Unrealistic'https://t.co/hpUwBjE0wF
— 🇺🇸🇺🇸Josh Dunlap🇺🇲🇺🇲 ULTRA-MAGA (@JDunlap1974) September 7, 2023
The defense attorney for Chesebro, Scott Grubman, criticized the prosecutors’ attempt to link the various allegations under a broad conspiracy count, deeming it flimsy and potentially leading to the charging of millions of people. Grubman argued that if merely supporting Donald Trump’s election campaign is enough to establish a common conspiracy, it undermines the principles of due process.
Trump himself has accused DA Willis of being a biased Democratic prosecutor, claiming she had an affair with a gang leader she later prosecuted. Trump’s attorneys dismissed the case as a desperate maneuver by Willis. Meanwhile, she is facing the possibility of an impeachment inquiry and federal oversight investigations. Overall, the rushed timeline, questionable tactics, and allegations against Willis raise significant concerns about the integrity and fairness of the prosecution.
