Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a felony charge on Friday just as jury selection commenced in his trial. Chesebro was one of the individuals charged, alongside former President Donald Trump and 17 others, for violating Georgia’s anti-racketeering law in attempts to overturn Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election.
Chesebro admitted guilt to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents, leading to a plea deal where other charges against him were dismissed. This development follows fellow attorney Sidney Powell’s guilty plea to six misdemeanor counts, indicating a strategic shift in the legal battle surrounding Trump’s electoral loss.
In response to his guilty plea, Chesebro was sentenced to five years’ probation, 100 hours of community service, and a $5,000 restitution fee. Additionally, he is required to compose an apology letter to Georgia’s residents and testify truthfully in any related future trials.
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The guilty pleas of Chesebro and Powell, coupled with a previous plea by a bail bondsman, mark significant successes for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. These pleas enable her to avoid a protracted trial and streamline the list of defendants, providing insight into her trial strategy.
Unlike Powell, there is no direct indication of contact between Chesebro and Trump in the indictment. Consequently, his potential contribution as a witness against other defendants, including Trump, remains uncertain. Chesebro’s lawyer, Scott Grubman, suggested that it’s at the discretion of prosecutors to call his client as a witness, expressing doubts about significant revelations.
Chesebro, residing in Puerto Rico, was initially charged with felony racketeering and other counts for his alleged involvement in a scheme to falsify documents claiming Trump’s victory in Georgia. The indictment contended that Chesebro orchestrated a plan where 16 Georgia Republicans falsely declared Trump as the state’s winner, posing as “duly elected and qualified” electors.
Grubman emphasized that the plea deal contradicts the portrayal of his client as the mastermind behind any plot to overturn the election, asserting that Chesebro was not involved in orchestrating a plan against democracy.
For the prosecutors, the plea deal ensures public accountability from Chesebro and secures his cooperation in future trials. This collaboration might include revealing communications with Trump’s campaign lawyers and associates, such as co-defendant Rudy Giuliani.
Responding to Chesebro’s guilty plea, Trump’s attorney, Steve Sadow, suggested it was a result of pressure from the prosecution. He expressed confidence that any truthful testimony from Chesebro would support their defense strategy.
Chesebro, identified as “co-conspirator 5” in a federal indictment against Trump, was accused of assisting in a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors. By accepting the plea deal, Chesebro avoids a trial where jurors had already been sworn in and questionnaires completed.
In Grubman’s view, the deal ensures Chesebro’s return to his family without incarceration. He believes the agreement, stating that Chesebro’s actions were not of “moral turpitude,” should permit him to continue practicing law.
Prosecutors alleged that Chesebro collaborated with Trump’s campaign lawyers to fabricate elector certificates and communicated with Republican leaders in other swing states to submit false elector slates. His strategies, including disrupting the joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021, were detailed in emails, outlining attempts to bypass the Electoral Count Act.
The guilty plea by Chesebro, an integral figure in the efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, signals a crucial breakthrough for the prosecution. As the legal proceedings continue, the impact of his testimony and cooperation in future trials remains to be seen.
