The judge responsible for the election fraud case against Donald Trump in the US state of Georgia has rejected a request by the ex-president to drop the case on constitutional grounds.
Trump’s lawyers had argued that the First Amendment of the US Constitution applied in the case – which, among other things, protects freedom of speech in the US. Judge Scott McAfee rejected that argument.
“Even important political statements are not protected from prosecution if they are suspected of being used in criminal conduct,” McAfee explained his decision. Only a jury could decide whether there was criminal intent behind the statements made by Trump and his co-defendants.
Trump and several others are facing charges in Georgia over their efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the US state. The Republican had lost to Democrat Joe Biden at the time and subsequently tried to change the election outcome in various ways, including by putting pressure on political leaders at the federal level and in states such as Georgia.
Some of Trump’s former associates struck a deal with prosecutors after the indictment and pleaded guilty. The 77-year-old wants to move back to the White House after the presidential elections in November.
Setback also in the hush money process
Former US President Donald Trump is also accused of paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels. He wanted the trial postponed. The responsible judge has now rejected this, because the request was submitted too late (see video above).
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
