Trial of Trump Expected to Begin on Election Day, Says Georgia District Attorney

Trial of Trump Expected to Begin on Election Day, Says Georgia District Attorney

Former President Donald Trump’s trial in Georgia over his attempts to overturn the state’s 2020 election results is expected to last through the 2022 Election Day and could potentially stretch beyond the 2025 inauguration, according to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Willis made these comments at an event sponsored by The Washington Post, shortly after she requested an emergency protective order to prevent the leaking of evidence in the case. Trump, along with 18 others, was indicted in August on charges related to a conspiracy to keep him in power after losing to Joe Biden. Trump’s trial is expected to be the last of his four criminal cases to go to trial, assuming Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee sets a trial date. Willis stated that she does not consider any election cycle or season when deciding which cases to bring, but rather focuses on the law and the facts of the case. Trump’s lead attorney in the Georgia case, Steve Sadow, declined to comment on Willis’ remarks. Willis’ team has filed a request for an emergency protective order to prevent the release of evidence, following the publication of video interviews with four co-defendants who have already pleaded guilty in the case. Prosecutors argue that the release of these recordings is intended to intimidate witnesses. Former Georgia Republican Party chair David Shafer and four other defendants objected to the request, stating that prosecutors had not shown how it would protect witnesses from harm.