Georgia attorney and Trump co-defendant Ray Smith entered a not guilty plea in Fulton County Monday on charges related to the attempt to overturn that state’s 2020 Presidential election.
Smith is among 19 co-defendants, along with former President Trump, who were indicted by a grand jury following Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ investigation into election interference.
All 19 have turned themselves in and had their mug shots taken. They’re all scheduled to be arraigned in person on September 6, though more could act as Smith has, enter a plea early and waive arraignment—instead in pleading front of courtroom cameras.
Smith, who turned himself in and was released on $50,000 bond this past Wednesday, faces racketeering charges, as do all of the co-defendants
He faces 11 additional counts including soliciting a public officer to violate their oath, criminal conspiracy, forgery and making false statements.
Many of the counts correspond to Smith’s participation in numerous Georgia legislative hearings, during which Trump’s attorneys attempted to convince state lawmakers of baseless claims of election fraud.
Smith is accused of unlawfully requesting state lawmakers appoint a set of fake electors from Georgia who would cast their votes for Trump rather than President Biden, who in actuality won the state’s election in 2020. Smith is also accused of conspiring with others to falsify a document that purported to be the certificate of the votes of the state’s 2020 Presidential electors.
