Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has managed to avoid a potential setback in her case against former President Donald Trump, as two co-defendants in the Georgia 2020 election case accepted last-minute plea deals.
Legal experts have noted that these plea deals prevent Trump's defense team from gaining access to some of Willis' evidence ahead of time. Willis had been pushing for all defendants to be tried on the same date, but the plea deals mean she won't have to reveal her strategy just yet.
According to Georgia-based criminal defense attorney and legal analyst Philip Holloway, Willis was eager to prevent the upcoming trial in October from taking place because she didn't want to expose her playbook to the primary defendants, including Trump and Rudy Giuliani.
Holloway explained, "If there had been a trial of Kenneth Chesebro, it would have been the first time any prosecutor in the multiple cases against Trump has had to prove their case, rather than making allegations in an indictment."
Cornell Law School professor William A. Jacobson added that such a trial would have provided insight into the strength of the evidence against Trump and allowed his defense team to preview the prosecution's case. However, with the plea deals, Willis can now keep her cards close to her chest.
While some may interpret the prosecution's acceptance of plea deals as an indication of overcharging defendants, Jacobson believes they are focused on their ultimate target: the former president.
In addition to allowing Willis to maintain the confidentiality of her evidence, the plea deals have also enabled prosecutors to secure witnesses who could be beneficial to the case, particularly Sidney Powell. As part of the plea deals, each defendant is required to testify honestly at other co-defendants' trials. John Malcolm, vice president for the Heritage Foundation's Institute for Constitutional Government, noted that Powell had been involved in meetings with other charged individuals and will be able to provide testimony about those gatherings.
Malcolm also highlighted the favorable terms of the plea deals, with Powell and Scott Hall, a bail bond owner, pleading only to misdemeanors. Once their probation is complete, these misdemeanors will be expunged from their records. On the other hand, Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a felony, likely a practical decision considering the potential consequences of a conviction.
Holloway noted that other defense teams are closely monitoring these developments, with some disappointed that the defendants accepted the plea deals. Many defense lawyers believe that the charges could have been beaten in court. However, the financial burden of complex and expensive litigation has made it difficult for some defendants to pursue their day in court.
Willis has been actively reaching out to other co-defendants' defense teams in recent weeks to offer plea deals. This strategy has been particularly appealing to defendants with limited resources who may prefer to avoid the financial strain of prolonged legal battles.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to Willis for comment, but she did not respond at the time of publication.
Login