Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia are seeking to reinstate six charges that were dismissed in the indictment against former President Donald Trump related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. The charges, including three against Trump, were quashed by a Superior Court judge earlier this year, but prosecutors argue that the dismissal was in error. They are specifically requesting that the state’s Court of Appeals reinstate counts related to solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer.
Prosecutors believe that the dismissed counts involve a defendant taking steps towards committing a crime, and that specific details about the underlying felony solicited are not necessary for a charge of solicitation. The three solicitation counts against Trump include allegations that he solicited Georgia House Speaker David Ralston and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Trump’s defense attorney, Steve Sadow, maintains that the trial court’s dismissal order was correct, as the state failed to sufficiently plead the allegations in the dismissed counts under Georgia law. The case has been on hold due to efforts to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as the prosecutor, and has seen delays as it moves through the legal process. Four of the original 19 co-defendants in the case have pleaded guilty, while Trump, along with Meadows and Giuliani, have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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