Former President Donald Trump waived his right to request a speedy trial in the Georgia case, where he is accused of participating in an illegal scheme to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump’s decision comes as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis announced that she will seek to put the former president on trial starting next month at the same time as the 18 other defendants involved in this case.
Most of the defendants have sought to separate their cases from some or all of the others, and many say they will not be ready to plead until Oct. 23, when two defendants who have already filed motions for retrials are scheduled for trial. quick trial.
This waiver of Trump’s request is in line with the efforts that the Republican Party primary candidate has made in his other cases, seeking to delay the procedures, to better prepare a return to the White House in the 2024 elections.
In addition to this case in Georgia, Trump faces prosecution in a state case in New York, as well as federal cases in Washington and Florida.
The waiver of a speedy trial, which a Trump lawyer said was filed Tuesday, comes in the wake of a petition filed by Willis’ office for all defendants to be tried together for reasons of efficiency and fairness.
Prosecutors say holding several lengthy trials instead of one starting Oct. 23 “would create enormous strain on the court’s judicial resources” and would favor defendants being tried later because they would have the advantage of seeing the evidence and the prosecution’s arguments before being tried.
Under Georgia law, any defendant who files a motion for a speedy trial has the right to have the trial begin on the court’s deadline when the motion is filed or on the next court deadline.
Meanwhile, five of the 19 defendants are trying to have their cases heard in federal courts instead of state courts.
Among them is former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who argued that his allegations relate to situations within the scope of his duties as a federal employee.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones rejected Meadows’ arguments and sent his case back to Fulton County Superior Court.
The other four defendants trying to take their cases to federal court — former U.S. Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark and three fake voters — have hearings scheduled for next week.
Source: TSF
