Former President Donald Trump’s legal team took a bold stance in an Atlanta courtroom, filing a motion to dismiss the case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The legal maneuver, presented during a comprehensive all-day hearing, argues that Trump’s post-2020 election actions are shielded by the First Amendment right to free speech.
In a noteworthy appearance, Trump’s lawyers passionately contended that the indictment filed by District Attorney Willis effectively criminalizes political activities protected under the First Amendment. Steven Sadow, representing Trump, explicitly argued before the Fulton County judge that the charges violate free speech, freedom of petitioning, and other constitutional protections.
The hearing marked the first in-court appearance for Trump’s legal team in the Georgia case, where Trump and 14 co-defendants face a range of state charges, including racketeering (RICO), related to their alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. All defendants have entered a plea of not guilty.
More Read
Should the case withstand the motions to dismiss, District Attorney Willis expressed the intention to consolidate all 15 defendants into a single trial. While a trial date remains pending, state prosecutors affirmed their readiness to proceed with the case.
Trump’s legal team, not content with challenging the charges alone, sought access to discovery materials. A protective order currently restricts the sharing of such materials with attorneys outside the Georgia case. Last week, Trump’s attorneys filed a motion to gain access to itemized lists outlining the information provided by the prosecution.
The legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of Trump’s parallel legal challenges, including a civil fraud case in New York where he, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization face allegations brought by state Attorney General Letitia James. The interconnected legal proceedings mark a pivotal chapter in Trump’s post-presidential legal saga.
Â
