A lawyer for former President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign who prosecutors called the “architect” of a scheme to overturn the Republican’s defeat pleaded guilty in a Georgia courtroom on Friday.
Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to one count of criminal conspiracy to file false documents as jury selection in his case was underway, becoming the second attorney linked to the 77-year-old Trump to plead guilty in as many days.
On Thursday, fellow attorney Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to six counts of misconduct in the wide-ranging case.
Chesebro was sentenced by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee to five years of probation and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution, write a letter of apology to the people of Georgia and testify at any future hearings related to the case — including a possible one against Trump.
Chesebro was indicted on August 14 on seven counts, including violating the Peach State’s anti-riot laws, conspiracy to commit forgery, conspiracy to make false statements and writings, conspiracy to file false documents and conspiracy to impersonate a public officer.
Prosecutors said Chesebro coordinated and executed a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans falsely sign certificates declaring that Trump won the state and declaring themselves the state’s “elected and qualified” electors.
Kenneth Chesebro speaks with Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee during a hearing where Chesebro accepted a plea deal, October 20, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. via REUTERS
He also communicated with Trump campaign lawyers and Republican leaders in other states won by Democrat Joe Biden to ask those states to turn over the fake voter rolls as well, prosecutors allege.
A Dec. 6, 2020 memo by Chesebro obtained by the New York Times in August described the strategy as a “bold, controversial” move that would “likely” be rejected by the US Supreme Court.
“It appears that the vote count can be conducted so that Trump will not fall behind in the electoral vote count unless and until Biden can obtain a favorable decision from the Supreme Court upholding the Election Count Act as constitutional,” the lawyer reported. wrote, “or otherwise recognize the authority of Congress (and not the Senate president) to count votes.”
In an email to Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, Chesebro outlined a strategy to disrupt and delay a joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021, when the electoral votes will be counted. He wrote that the strategy was “better than allowing the Election Count Act to operate on its terms.”
Becoming the second former attorney linked to Trump to plead guilty in as many days, Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in the sprawling Georgia case. Alyssa Pointer/Pool via REUTERS
The joint session was eventually disrupted for several hours when Trump supporters broke into the Capitol and destroyed the building, forcing House and Senate lawmakers to flee to their offices or safe areas.
Three of the 19 defendants in the Georgia case have pleaded guilty: Chesebro, Powell, and bail bondsman Scott Hall, who pleaded guilty last month to five misdemeanor counts. He was sentenced to five years of probation and agreed to testify in further proceedings.
The remaining 16 – including Trump himself, Giuliani, and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows – have pleaded not guilty and no trial dates have been set for them.
with Postal wire
Chesebro is sworn in during a plea agreement hearing before Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee in Fulton County Court October 20, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alyssa Pointer/Pool via REUTERS
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
