CNN
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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has asked the state Court of Appeals to reinstate six counts in the election-subversion case against Donald Trump and his co-defendants, including three specifically against the former president.
The court filing puts the spotlight back on the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election and President Trump’s efforts to overturn his election loss, as early voting begins in Georgia for the 2024 election.
Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that six of the 41 charges related to Mr. Trump and some co-defendants for allegedly abetting a violation of oath by a public official include The court ruled that it lacked the necessary details as to whether it was inciting a crime.
The tally is related to an alleged effort by Trump and co-defendants to have state officials appoint the state’s bogus slate of electors after Trump lost the 2020 election.
In his March ruling, McAfee wrote that Willis failed to provide the defendants with “sufficient information” to prepare a defense.
“As written, these six counts contain all the essential elements of a crime, but sufficient details about the nature of the commission, the solicitation of the underlying felony, are not alleged,” McAfee said at the time. “It has not been done,” he wrote. “The defendant may have violated the Constitution, and thus the statute, in dozens, if not hundreds, of different ways, so the defendant has not been provided with enough information to intelligently prepare a defense. No.”
McAfee said that despite the charges being dropped, the alleged conduct on which they were based could still be used by prosecutors as part of the Georgia extortion case.
Willis responded Tuesday in the appeals court, arguing that the indictment against Trump and others contains a wealth of information that would allow the defendants to adequately prepare for the case.
“The indictment contained extensive background and factual allegations regarding the solicitation at issue,” Willis said in a brief filed Tuesday. ”
Separately, the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Willis from prosecuting the 2020 election destruction case, citing disagreements related to his romantic relationship with a former special counsel, according to Trump and his co-defendants. We are also considering working with the government.
Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
