The judge presiding over the case of alleged election interference in Georgia by former President Donald Trump has set a hearing date for Thursday. During this hearing, oral arguments will be heard on various motions presented by Trump and his co-defendant, David Shafer.
The upcoming hearing marks an important milestone following the unsuccessful attempt to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, the very prosecutor who initiated the case.
Judge Scott McAfee has granted Trump permission to appeal his disqualification ruling. However, the judge has also made it clear that he will continue to move the case forward in the meantime.
Earlier this month, McAfee chose not to completely disqualify Willis despite allegations that she had financial benefits from a romantic relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade. However, McAfee did rule that either Willis or Wade needed to step aside from the case. As a result, Wade ultimately resigned as the special prosecutor.
Trump, along with 18 others, entered a plea of not guilty in August of last year in response to a comprehensive racketeering indictment. The charges stemmed from their alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia.
Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, and Scott Hall, the defendants, later opted for plea deals. They agreed to testify against other defendants in exchange for the deals.
The former president criticized the district attorney’s investigation, accusing it of being politically motivated.