A former lawyer for Donald Trump's campaign, Kenneth Chesebro, has pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy charges related to the 2020 Georgia election case. This confession of guilt came unexpectedly during the jury selection process for a forthcoming trial.
What Happened: Chesebro admitted on Friday to unlawfully plotting to overturn Trump's electoral loss in Georgia, The Washington Post reports. He is now the second ex-Trump lawyer, following Sidney Powell, to plead guilty in the far-reaching racketeering case.
Earlier in the month, Scott Hall, working in bail bonds, was the third co-defendant to plead guilty. All three have committed to testifying in the trial.
In his admission of guilt, Chesebro acknowledged conspiring to submit fraudulent documents, facing a potential jail term of between one and five years. According to the Post, this progress marks a crucial win for Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis, who is leading the prosecution.
Chesebro, a graduate of Harvard Law School, is purportedly the legal mastermind behind a plan to use Trump electors in Georgia and other key states to undermine the authentic 2020 electoral college results.
The scheme Chesebro devised involved Trump electors convening in crucial battleground states, such as Georgia, to sign documents falsely asserting Trump, not Biden, was the vote winner in their states. Chesebro's testimony could notably influence the case against his co-defendants.
While Chesebro had initially pleaded not guilty, he later revised his stance before Judge Scott McAfee of the Fulton County Superior Court.
Trump's Other Ex-Attorney: Chesebro's plea followed that of Powell's, a fellow defendant in the case, who pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Powell's plea deal includes a $6,000 fine and six years of probation.
She also agreed to testify against her co-defendants in future trials, a group that could potentially include Trump. She pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors related to election interference.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Shutterstock.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.