Atlanta, Georgia – Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges related to election fraud in Georgia. Mr. Trump is among 19 individuals facing allegations of conspiring to overturn the results of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election.
Last week, Mr. Trump voluntarily turned himself in at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, where he had his mugshot taken. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the case as politically motivated.
In a court document filed on Thursday, Mr. Trump waived his right to appear in court for his upcoming arraignment, citing his understanding of the allegations and his rights.
The charges against Mr. Trump include 13 felony counts, including racketeering, for purportedly pressuring Georgia officials to reverse the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in the state.
Although Mr. Trump had previously appeared at his three previous arraignments in other jurisdictions, he opted to waive his right to appear in person for the Georgia case. In all three previous cases, there was heightened security due to gatherings of Trump supporters and counter-protesters near the courthouses.
Brian Tevis, an attorney representing one of Mr. Trump’s co-accused, Rudy Giuliani, noted that defendants frequently choose to waive their arraignment, a decision that is typically uncontroversial.
Earlier this week, three other co-defendants in the case entered not guilty pleas, including former Trump attorneys Ray Stallings Smith and Sidney Powell, as well as former celebrity publicist Trevian Kutti. Rudy Giuliani, Mr. Trump’s former personal attorney, also plans to waive his arraignment in Fulton County and plead not guilty.
Originally scheduled for September 6, Mr. Trump’s arraignment was to be followed by the other defendants in 15-minute intervals. All 19 defendants, including Mr. Trump, are charged with violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly known as the Rico Act. This law is used to help prosecutors connect individuals who broke the law with those who organized or ordered the criminal activities.
Fulton County’s District Attorney, Fani Willis, a Democrat, has faced criticism from some Republicans and Trump allies for indicting Mr. Trump in this case. State Senator Colton Moore had called for a special session to impeach Ms. Willis but received no commitment from Republican Governor Brian Kemp.
All court proceedings related to Mr. Trump and the 18 co-defendants in Georgia will be televised and broadcast on YouTube, as ruled by a Fulton County judge on Thursday.
