The fight is on in Georgia, and President Trump and his 18 do-defendants begin the process of fighting the charges brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
The trial is the first of its kind in U.S. history, and minute-by-minute new developments highlight the unusual nature of the proceedings.
The process is going to separate true conservative Republicans from RINOS, as liberal media is reporting that three of the co-defendants have “flipped” on the former president. But that is part of the strategy that is usual for the prosecution.
The Daily Beast reports that former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani has publicly stated all defendants should make a deal right away. “Willis doesn’t want to try 19 defendants,” he told the Daily Beast on Friday. “She wants to try Donald Trump, and flip the 18 defendants against him.”
Daily Beast notes:
During his career as assistant U.S. attorney, Rahmani, who is now in private practice, put more than 1000 criminals behind bars, he said. Of those, “I can count on one hand the number of people that I wanted to cooperate who didn’t cooperate.”
Rahmani also noted, “And usually, the first to cooperate gets the best deal.”
Such strong-arm tactics are working if the reports of Georgia Republicans Shawn Still, Cathleen Latham, and David Shafer claim that they were coerced into participating in actions pertaining to the Trump campaign’s protest of the 2020 election results in Georgia, specifically signing papers that are being called “false.”
The three reportedly claim that they became false electors at the request of the former president or his attorneys.
The prosecution started the wheels turning on its strategy as all defendants turned themselves in this week in Fulton County. The Trump Team stratedy is moving as well, as some of the defendants have sought to move the case to federal court, and others have while others are seeking speedy or separate trials.
Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff will make his argument for removal to federal court on Monday. Others are also requesting the chang of venue, citing their ties to Georgia, The New York Times reports.
Those other co-defendants requesting the venue change are Jeffery Clark and the three in question of turing on Trump; Shawn Still, Cathy Latham, and David Shafer.
This week, two defendants, former Trump election lawyers Kenneth Chesbro and Sidney Powell invoked their constitutional right to a speedy trial. In Georgia, this means defendants are entitled to a trial starting within two weeks of indictment.
Although Willis responded with a trial date of Oct for Chesbro from Judge Scott McAfee, McAfee stated that would not do the same for other co-defendants “at this time,” Daily Beast reported.
McAfee has not given a reason as to who other co-defendants would not receive their contstitutional right to a speedy trial.
Co-defendant Harrison Floyd, who turned himself in even before President Trump this week, was told by Judge Emily Richardson that he was a flight risk, and was refused bond. Floyd is the only one of the 10 defendants wh remains in jail. He has denied that he is a flight risk, saying to the judge, ” There’s no way that I am a flight risk, Ma’am,” on Thursday.
Floyd asked for a public defender, saying he could not afford a private lawyer but was denied, and told that he did not quify for the service. Floyd is the only black man being charged.
The massive legal bills that will be incurred by the defendants could reportedly top $1 million. A new legal defense fund called the Patriot Legal Defense Fund was created in July by two Trump confidants, CNBC reports, to reaise money for helping Trump aides and employees with their legal bills.
Except for Floyd, all other defendants negotiated a bond agreement before arriving at the Fulton County Courthouse to voluntarily submit to the cahrges, and were therefore immediately released.
Speculation from liberal sources is that all defendants will eventually take a plea deal is being bantered around. For his part, President Trump has stated that he is against the speedy trial for all, and wants this to play out.
Willis has requested that arraignments be held the week of September 5, Al-Jazeera reports, at which time defendants will enter their pleas.
President Trump himself is facing 13 charges, including racketeering soliciting a public official to violate their oath of office, filing false statements, conspiracy to commit forgery and conspiracy to impersonate a public officer.
Trump denies wrongdoing in all charges, and is accusing Georgia prosecuters of seekng to derail his re-election campaign.
He has posted his optimism in being able to publicly declare in court, saying, “For the first time in three years, brave American Patriots will be able to, in Court, to show how the Presidential Election fo 2020 was RIGGED and STOLLEN.”
In the face of persecution Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr, offer t-shirts with his mug shot to the delight of supporters.
The post Three Trump Co-Defendants Have Just Turned On Him appeared first on The Republic Brief.
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