Georgia Judge to Hear Pro-Trump Lawyer Sidney Powell’s Arguments to Dismiss Racketeering Charges

ATLANTA – Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee will hear arguments for why racketeering charges facing pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell should be dismissed Thursday.

The hearing, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., comes just two weeks before the case against Powell and her co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro enters the trial phase, with jury selection slated to start Oct. 20. 

Powell’s attorney, Brian Rafferty, is arguing that racketeering charges against Powell should be dismissed for “prosecutorial misconduct,” in addition to filing a motion known as a “Brady motion” requesting the state reveal potential exculpatory evidence. 

Both motions will be heard at Thursday’s hearing, which is expected to be live streamed on McAfee’s YouTube channel. 

The sweeping 41-count grand jury indictment against former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants charges Powell and several others with breaching election systems in Coffee County, a rural and conservative southeast Georgia County. 

Powell has pleaded not guilty, but her co-defendant Scott Hall struck a plea deal with prosecutors last Friday for his alleged involvement in the breach and is expected to be a key witness against her. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, plea deals have also been offered to a number of defendants, including those like Powell involved in the Coffee County breach.

Thursday's hearing also comes the day before the deadline for all the parties in the Chesebro and Powell trial to file pre-trial motions and responses. The two attorneys have invoked their right to a speedy trial under Georgia law, and so will be the first of the remaining 18 co-defendants to stand trial. 

McAfee has set aside Oct. 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 as potential dates to wrap up all pre-trial motion hearings ahead of jury selection.