Donald Trump will not seek to move the trial for alleged election interference in Georgia from state court to federal court. The former president's legal team said they were confident that the state court would "fully and completely" protect his constitutional rights.
President Trump's lawyers have decided not to try moving his Georgia case to federal court. pic.twitter.com/H8jjKkQcl5
— Amy Gardner (@AmyEGardner) September 28, 2023
The decision comes three weeks after Magistrate Steve Jones, judge of the Northern District of Georgia, denied the same request by Mark Meadows. Lawyers for Trump's former White House chief of staff had argued that trying him in Georgia would represent state interference in the duties of a federal official, violating the Constitution's supremacy clause.
Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark and three 'false electors' also asked to move their charges to federal court, according to the AP. Justice has not yet ruled on the matter.
What does it mean?
The change to a federal bench would have offered two advantages to the former president: the possibility of obtaining a more politically diverse jury than in Fulton - a Democratic stronghold - and trying to dismiss the case, alleging that he was merely exercising his official duties protected with judicial immunity.
However, the AP assures that Trump's legal team continues to claim that Georgia cannot try him because, as president, he was carrying out federal duties.
Keeping the case in Georgia also means the trial will be livestreamed. While cameras are prohibited in federal courts, Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee ruled in September that the proceedings would be viewable on the court's YouTube channel.
Uncertain date
The once again Republican candidate pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him - as he did in all the proceedings against him.
At the moment it is unknown when the trial will begin, although December 1st is set as the deadline to file motions before its start.
