Fani Willis’ Case Against President Trump Crumbles

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ extensive election interference trial in Georgia could potentially impact other trials related to former President Donald Trump, according to legal experts.

According to Newsweek, Willis has expressed her intention to consolidate the cases of all 19 defendants who have been charged in her anti-racketeering investigation regarding alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. She has suggested that proceedings might commence as early as October 23.

Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, former attorneys for Trump who are among the indicted individuals, have sought to have their cases separated from the larger group to be tried independently. All three defendants have entered pleas of not guilty.

This Wednesday, a hearing will be conducted by Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee to determine whether Chesebro and Powell can indeed be tried separately. Judge McAfee has requested that Willis’ office provide a “good faith” estimate regarding the duration of the joint trial involving all 19 defendants, the anticipated number of witnesses, and the volume of evidence that will be presented.

Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Harry Litman, in a series of posts on a social media platform (formerly Twitter), pointed out potential challenges for Willis in providing an accurate estimate. He noted that her previous significant Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) trial, which involved numerous educators in Atlanta accused of cheating on standardized tests, lasted several months.

Litman remarked, “If Willis provides an estimate similar to her previous trials—8 months or longer—it could disrupt the scheduling of multiple trials. It’s difficult to see how she could offer a ‘good-faith’ estimate significantly shorter than the previous teacher RICO case.”

He added, “Remember that the most relevant precedent, the RICO trial involving educators, took about 8 months to conclude (with months of jury selection beforehand). If she provides a similar estimate, it would disrupt everything. If she doesn’t, questions will arise about why this case is significantly shorter.”

“It appears that Judge McAfee will need to navigate this situation carefully, and it remains uncertain how he will proceed. This is a significant hearing,” Litman concluded.