Trump attorneys on Thursday officially filed to sever the former President’s racketeering case from that of his 18 co-defendants in Fulton County, Georgia on charges related to the attempt to overturn that state’s 2020 Presidential election.
Trump is among 19 co-defendants who were indicted by a grand jury following Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ investigation into election interference.
All 19 are facing racketeering charges. Trump is also facing an additional 12 criminal counts, including solicitation of violation of oath by public officer, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, conspiracy to commit filing false documents, and conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree.
According to their court filing, Trump’s attorneys assert that they “will not have sufficient time to prepare President Trump’s case for trial by the October 23, 2023″—the date set for former Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro who requested a speedy trial.
The filing comes two days after Willis filed to fast-track her racketeering case so that all 19 co-defendants, including Trump, could be tried at the same time—on Cheseboro’s granted date of October 23.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump pleaded not guilty and waived his arraignment, as a handful of his co-defendants had already done, in order to avoid pleading in front of Fulton County courtroom cameras.
Willis had scheduled all of their arraignments for September 6.
Last Thursday, Trump turned himself in and like all of his fellow co-defendants, had his mug shot taken. He also agreed to a $200,000 bond deal last week.
PHOTO: Trump arriving in Atlanta last week to turn himself in
