In an order issued Monday afternoon, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee scheduled a new hearing date in the 2020 election interference case.
Attorneys representing former President Donald Trump and former Georgia Republican Party chairman David Shafer are instructed to return to court on Thursday to address three motions, according to the judge's directive.
Judge sets new hearing date in 2020 Georgia election interference case https://t.co/O33vO4OWO9
— 11Alive News (@11AliveNews) March 25, 2024
Trump's attorney, Steve Sadow, contends in a December motion that the indictment against Trump should be dismissed, asserting that Trump's alleged criminal behavior constituted protected political speech under the First Amendment.
Responding to claims of First Amendment protection in a January court filing, prosecutors argued that the charges against the defendants were not shielded by political speech protections and warranted prosecution.
In a separate legal maneuver, Shafer's defense team seeks dismissal of charges against him, arguing in a February court filing that Shafer's actions were lawful at the time, as he purportedly followed legal counsel and adhered to former federal Electoral Count Act requirements.
Furthermore, Shafer's attorneys petitioned the court in a February motion to strike certain language from the indictment, including phrases like "false Electoral College votes," asserting that such language preempts judicial or jury determination and unfairly prejudices Shafer's case.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and other prosecutors countered Shafer's motion, disputing his claims and asserting a lack of legal foundation for his arguments.
Judge McAfee is slated to preside over arguments on these matters during Thursday morning's court session.
The case is just one of the criminal prosecutions against Trump expected to proceed to trial soon. Prosecutors argued that there was little new material in the recently disclosed documents, while Trump's lawyers contended that the volume of relevant records warranted further delay or dismissal of the case.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records, reiterated his claims of a "witch hunt" and a "hoax" as he left the courtroom.
A separate hush money case revolves around allegations that Trump misrepresented $130,000 in payments as legal fees to conceal what prosecutors assert was illegal activity.
The funds were reportedly directed to Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, in connection with payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to suppress allegations of a prior affair with Trump.
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges, including campaign finance violations related to the payments to Daniels. While he implicated Trump in the scheme, federal prosecutors did not pursue charges against the former president in connection with the matter.
