First Trump Co-Defendant Trial Gets Started in Georgia as Potential Jurors Arrive to Do Their Duty

ATLANTA – Kenneth Chesebro’s trial appeared to be proceeding as scheduled Friday when hundreds of Fulton County residents were shepherded into the seventh floor jury selection room of the courthouse.

Reporters under strict new rules adopted for this case could not point cameras or provide descriptions of any individual potential juror, but the 450 people assembled largely appeared to represent the cross section of age, race, gender that makes up Fulton County.  

They reported for duty at 8:30 a.m., the first half of 900 summoned by Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee who is overseeing all the cases against Donald Trump and the16 remaining co-defendants named in the Georgia election racketeering indictment. 

Two defendants, Scott Hall and Sidney Powell, have pleaded guilty. Powell, who was supposed to stand trial alongside Chesebro, took a surprise plea deal Thursday morning, raising questions about whether anything would change with Chesebro’s case. 

McAfee kicked off proceedings at around 9:50 a.m., swearing in jurors and introducing attorneys from both sides. 

Fulton County District Attorney special prosecutor Nathan Wade summarized the indictment before McAfee read prepared remarks to the room of could-be jurors. He went over the basics of jury service, and also informed them about the case they might be serving on, drawing an audible groan from his audience when he told them the case is estimated to last four to five months. 

Wade noted that people might be excused for hardship, and that their jobs would be protected. 

“If your job is threatened, or anyone trying to interfere with your jury service, please let me know because it’s a crime to interfere with jury service,” Wade said. 

McAfee also warned jurors to not try to worm their way out of service by providing wonky answers to the questionnaire. 

“Let me also add that I've heard rumors, I don't think would apply to anyone here today, but some people will sometimes try to respond to a questionnaire and kind of say things to get them out of jury service,” the judge said, cautioning that he could punish anyone trying to get out of jury service by forcing them to watch the whole trial “from the back row.” 

“So with that I would ask them once you've completed the questionnaire, and contact sheet and receive your instructions…you're free to go. You're not leaving until you've been excused by one of the jury staff,” he said.

Questionnaires were found under resident’s chairs, there was a scramble to ensure people had enough pens, and clipboards to use as writing surfaces, but by 10:15 a.m. most everyone was quietly filling out their questionnaire. By 11 a.m. the speediest were lining up to be excused. 

Chesebro’s attorneys, as well as prosecutors for the state, were present in the room and introduced themselves before McAfee provided jurors instructions.

Chesebro himself was not seen in the jury selection room, but his attorney, Scott Grubman, told reporters his client was in the courthouse. Chesebro has pleaded not guilty to the state felony charges related to his role as the alleged architect of the ‘fake’ electors scheme to subvert the 2020 election results.