New Trial Date Proposed by Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis for Trump and 18 Co-Defendants on Oct. 23

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has requested a trial date of October 23, 2023, for former President Donald Trump and the 18 other defendants charged in connection with alleged attempts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. Willis initially proposed a trial start date of March 4, 2024, but in response to a request for a speedy trial from defendant Kenneth Chesebro, she called for proceedings to begin this year instead. However, Trump’s newly appointed attorney filed a response opposing the October 23 date and indicated that he would seek to separate Trump’s case from that of Chesebro or any other defendant pushing for an expedited trial. It remains uncertain when the judge in the Georgia case will decide on a trial schedule.

Willis’ proposed timeline is ambitious and likely to face resistance from other defendants due to the complex nature of the case and the extensive evidence that defense teams are entitled to review before the trial begins. Trump’s attorneys have previously requested delays in the three other cases in which he faces charges, with trials scheduled beyond the next presidential election in November.

Chesebro, a Trump-supporting attorney, filed a “demand for speedy trial” on August 23. In response, Willis requested that the court specifically set the trial date for October 23, 2023. Chesebro’s attorney, Scott Grubman, stated that his client would be prepared to proceed with the trial on any date set by the court. Grubman also emphasized Chesebro’s innocence and confidence in the legal process.

Last week, Trump and 18 of his associates were indicted on charges including racketeering and Election fraud related to alleged efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. As defendants in the case continue to surrender before the Friday deadline, Trump is expected to arrive in Fulton County for processing on Thursday evening, maintaining his innocence. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, another defendant in the case, has also maintained his innocence.

In conclusion, the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, has requested an October 23, 2023, trial date for Donald Trump and 18 other defendants charged in connection with attempts to overturn the state’s 2020 election results. Trump’s attorneys oppose this date and aim to separate his case from other defendants seeking an expedited trial. The complexity of the case and the need to review extensive evidence may lead to pushback from defendants. The judge has yet to decide on a trial schedule.

Original Story at www.cbsnews.com – 2023-08-24 19:06:00