In a recent development, Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee dismissed two criminal charges against potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
The charges were part of a case concerning the 2020 Georgia election, initiated by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The dismissed charges against Trump and other co-defendants included conspiracy to commit filing false documents and filing false documents. A third charge, criminal attempt to commit filing false documents, was also leveled against several co-defendants, as reported by CNBC.
According to The Post Millennial, Judge McAfee's decision was influenced by a precedent set by the 1890 US Supreme Court case, In re Loney. This ruling limited a state's power to prosecute perjury and false filings in a federal district court. Consequently, McAfee ruled that the three charges "must be quashed." Despite this, Trump still faces eight other charges in the ongoing case.
The case's proceedings have been temporarily halted, with a hearing scheduled for December to decide if DA Willis can continue to preside over the case.
Earlier this year in March, Judge McAfee dismissed six charges, three of which were directly against Trump. These charges were related to alleged attempts by Trump and some of his co-defendants to persuade Georgia officials to breach their oaths of office. The alleged breaches included "unlawfully appointing presidential electors," "unlawfully influencing the certified election returns," or "unlawfully decertifying the election."
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