Three of former President Donald Trump’s 18 co-defendants accused of trying to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 Georgia election have pleaded not guilty to the sweeping charges.
Former campaign attorney Ray Stallings Smith III entered a plea to 12 charges against him Monday afternoon. He was followed Tuesday by publicist Trevian Kutti, who pleaded not guilty to three counts, and former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell, who pleaded not guilty to seven counts against him.
The early plea means the three will be excused from appearing in person for arraignment Sept. 6 on charges brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Trump, 77, is scheduled to be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. that day before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee. It is unclear whether he will plead before then.
Ray Stallings Smith III grimaces toward the face for his mug shot. FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/AFP via Getty Images
Smith, a partner at the Atlanta-based law firm Smith and Liss, helped work on Trump’s effort to reverse his loss to Joe Biden in the Peach State. He was accused of advising so-called “fake voters” who falsely signed legal documents proving that Trump had actually won the election.
Powell, known for his “unleash the Kraken” mantra, has applied for a speedy trial under Georgia law, meaning his case could be heard as soon as October.
Kutti, who has been a publicist for Kanye West and R. Kelly, allegedly went to the home of a Peach State election worker, Ruby Freeman, claiming to be a crisis manager. During the visit, Kutti threatened Freeman with arrest if he did not falsely confess to electoral fraud, prosecutors said.
Sidney Powell is quickly emerging as one of the public faces of Donald Trump’s efforts to derail the 2020 election. via REUTERS
Trevian Kutti smiles for his mug shot.AP
Fani Willis presented the fourth allegation in about five months against Donald Trump.REUTERS
Willis’ team unveiled a 41-count case against Trump and his 18 co-defendants on August 14.
All 19 defendants face at least one count of violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
Willis began his investigation into the matter more than two years ago in response to Trump’s January 2, 2021 call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which he stressed the need to “find, uh, 11,780 votes” — enough to reverse his loss.
Donald Trump is the first current or former US president to be criminally indicted — a feat he accomplished in four cases.Getty Images
Trump faces a total of 91 charges – 13 in the Fulton County case, four in the federal election subversion case, 40 in the alleged hiding of classified documents, and 34 in the Manhattan case accusing him of falsifying business records.
He has denied wrongdoing.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
