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Steven Sadow, Donald Trump's attorney in his Georgia election-interference case, has launched a bid to get the former president's trial delayed. Sadow said it could be the "most-effective election interference" in American history if it takes place alongside the 2024 presidential battle.
Polling shows Trump has a commanding lead over the other Republicans vying for the party's 2024 presidential nomination, potentially setting up a rematch of the 2020 contest against incumbent Democrat President Joe Biden. Newsweek has reached out to Donald Trump for comment via the online press inquiry form on his official website.
Trump has pled not guilty to 13 counts in Fulton County, Georgia, over allegations he broke the law attempting to overturn the state's 2020 presidential election result. Charges against him include conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, and violating Georgia's anti-racketeering act. Trump was one of 19 individuals initially indicted in the case, four of whom have since pled guilty to some charges as part of plea deals with prosecutors. Trump denies any wrongdoing.
In November, District Attorney Fani Willis, who is prosecuting the case, argued the trial of the remaining defendants, including Trump, should begin in August 2024.
However, Sadow hit back during a hearing on Friday, arguing this would amount to election interference. He said: "Can you imagine the notion of the Republican nominee for president not being able to to campaign for the presidency because he is, in some form or fashion, in a courtroom defending himself?
"That would be the most-effective election interference in the history of the United States," Sadow added.
However, this view was challenged by special prosecutor Nathan Wade who said: "This trial does not constitute election interference. This is moving forward with the business of Fulton County.
"I don't think it in any way impedes defendant Trump's ability to campaign," Wade added.
Sadow has a history of representing high-profile clients in Georgia and was previously described by Atlanta rapper T.I., real name Clifford Harris Jr., as "probably the best criminal defence attorney of his time." Harris Jr. added that Sadow, who represented him in a case, has "a slight hint of genius."
During Friday's hearing, Sadow also said that if Trump is elected again to the presidency, the supremacy clause in the constitution would prevent his Georgia trial taking place while he is still holding office.
Judge Scott McAfee, who is presiding over the Georgia case, said he had yet to decide on the trial's timing, adding: "I think that's obviously something we're going to be taking up in greater detail in the new year."
In a separate ruling on Friday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump's national election-interference case, ruled the 2024 Republican frontrunner cannot avoid the charges he faces based on presidential immunity.
Trump has pled not guilty to all counts in both the Georgia and national election interference cases, as well as criminal cases brought over allegations he orchestrated the payment of hush money to a pornographic actress and mishandled classified documents. The former president has repeatedly said the charges against him are politically motivated and constitute a "witch hunt" to derail his White House campaign.
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About the writer
James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is on covering news and politics ... Read more