On Thursday, a Georgia judge delivered a significant legal victory for former President Donald Trump in his 2020 election interference case. Judge Scott McAfee ruled to dismiss multiple charges from the indictment filed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. This decision marks another triumph for Trump as he gears up for the 2024 presidential race.
The judge granted a motion from several of Trump’s co-defendants to dismiss three counts from the extensive racketeering indictment. These counts were deemed outside the jurisdiction of Georgia state law, a crucial win for Trump and his team. Notably, two of the dismissed charges were directly related to Trump himself.
Trump’s lead defense attorney, Steve Sadow, celebrated the ruling, stating, “President Trump and his legal team in Georgia have prevailed once again.” Despite facing accusations of trying to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results to stay in office, Trump has consistently pleaded not guilty.
Following this latest ruling, Trump now faces eight charges, down from the initial thirteen. The legal proceedings are currently on hold as Trump and several co-defendants challenge the involvement of DA Fani Willis, citing her past romantic relationship with a top prosecutor who has since recused himself.
Judge McAfee’s decision came in response to a motion filed by two of Trump’s associates, pro-Trump lawyer John Eastman and Georgia Senator Shawn Still (R). These two, whose prosecutions remain unaffected by the current appeal, saw the dismissal of three counts related to fraudulent Electoral College documents. McAfee determined that these charges fell under federal jurisdiction, not state law, and thus could not be prosecuted by the state.
In his ruling, McAfee noted that allowing state-level prosecution for these documents could undermine federal judicial processes. However, he also made it clear that other charges, including the central racketeering charge, remain in place. McAfee hinted that future Supreme Court decisions on presidential immunity might influence these remaining allegations but did not address this issue directly in his ruling.
This dismissal follows a previous decision where McAfee removed six charges from the indictment, including three directly involving Trump, due to insufficient detail on the alleged violations. Among the previously dismissed charges were those related to Trump’s phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his attempt to influence Georgia House Speaker David Ralston.
Overall, this recent development represents a substantial win for Trump and his legal team, reinforcing his position as a formidable contender for the upcoming presidential election.