In ongoing developments of the Georgia RICO case, attorney Ken Chesebro, one of 18 accused of participating in a conspiracy to undermine the 2020 presidential election, has demanded a speedy trial, asserting his right to be tried by the end of October 2023. Previously best known for earning a fortune through Bitcoin, the attorney made headlines once again when he became a central proponent of the contested election results, not least through providing legal justification for his co-conspirators.
Chesebro’s advocacy for swift legal proceedings comes as a surprise, as it contrasts sharply with the strategy of another co-defendant, former president Trump, who has consistently aimed to delay litigation proceedings. Notably, Trump even proposed that a separate trial for alleged election interference be postponed to April 2026. However, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has appeased Chesebro’s demand by motioning to set the trial for all accused defendants for October 23, 2023.
Trump, however, is seemingly reluctant about this proposed schedule. Following the dismissal of his Georgia counsel Drew Findling, his newly appointed lawyer, Steven Sadow, interrupted proceedings by seeking a pretrial scheduling conference for Trump to discuss potential delays to the trial. Trump’s objection to Chesebro’s motion, alongside his wish to separate his case, was made known to the court through his intent to sever his case from Chesebro’s.
With such developments in motion, it seems unlikely that the pending federal removal petitions by Mark Meadows and Jeff will be adjudicated before October, given their immediate appeals to the Eleventh Circuit. But in a new turn of events, Judge Scott McAfee has agreed to the prosecutors’ proposed scheduling motion. As such, the trial for the accused is officially set to commence on October 23, 2023.
During these developments, Trump seems to have held onto his critical stance against his prosecution, as shown by his response on social media. Maintaining his innocence, he criticized DA Fani Willis and reiterated his claim that the 2020 election was ‘rigged and stolen.’