Topline
Former President Donald Trump’s ex-attorney Sidney Powell pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges filed against her, Trump and 17 others by the district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, a day after a judge set a September 6 arraignment date for Trump and his co-defendants.
Former President Donald Trump’s ex-attorney Sidney Powell poses for her booking photo on August 23, … [+] 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
Key Facts
Powell waived her right to an arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the seven felonies she was charged with on August 14.
Prosecutors accused Powell of helping Trump spread false claims of election fraud, including that Dominion Voting Systems’ equipment was rigged.
Georgia lawyer Ray Smith became the first defendant in the case to enter a plea, also of not guilty, on Monday to 12 counts primarily tied to allegations that he helped aid Trump and his allies in recruiting fake electors to wrongly certify the Electoral College results in Trump’s favor.
Publicist Trevian Kutti, who prosecutors accuse of playing a role in pressuring a Georgia election worker to falsely claim fraud took place, also pleaded not guilty to three charges in the case.
What To Watch For
Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee set a September 6 arraignment date for Trump and his co-defendants on Monday.
What We Don’t Know
Powell and former Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro requested speedy trials in the case, and McAfee ordered Chesebro’s trial to commence on October 23. McAfee has yet to make a decision on Powell’s request.
Key Background
A Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump and his 18 co-defendants August 14 on 41 counts related to their efforts to overturn President Joe Biden’s election win in the state, including a racketeering charge filed against each of the defendants. All of them surrendered last week ahead of the Friday deadline set by the district attorney’s office, including Trump, who had his mug shot taken for the first time Thursday, marking a departure from his previous three indictments this year.
Tangent
Trump’s former White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, testified before a federal judge Monday as he seeks to move the case to federal court. Meadows sought to characterize his conduct related to Trump’s efforts to challenge the election results in Georgia as part of his federal duties, arguing he is immune from state prosecution. “There is a role for the chief of staff to make sure those campaign goals and objectives are implemented at the federal level,” Meadows told Judge Steve Jones, according to CNN. Meadows is one of five defendants seeking to move his case to federal court.
Further Reading
Former Trump Lawyer Sidney Powell Demands Speedy Trial In Trump Georgia Election Interference Case (Forbes)
Final Defendant In Trump’s Georgia Election Interference Case—Pastor Stephen Lee—Surrenders (Forbes)
