By Salam Bustanji
Former Donald Trump Attorney Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.
This happened just as jury selection was about to begin. Chesebro, along with 17 others, was charged with violating the state’s anti-racketeering law. He admitted to conspiring to file false documents in a last-minute deal. Another attorney, Sidney Powell, who was set to go to trial with him, also entered a guilty plea to six misdemeanor counts.
Chesebro, residing in Puerto Rico, was initially charged with multiple counts, including felony racketeering, in a scheme aimed at keeping Donald Trump in power after he lost to Joe Biden. The indictment stated that Chesebro orchestrated a plan where 16 Georgia Republicans falsely declared Trump as the state's winner and themselves as the rightful electors.
Chesebro received a sentence of five years’ probation, 100 hours of community service, a $5,000 restitution, and must write an apology letter to Georgia residents. He is also required to testify truthfully at any related future trial. This, along with Powell's plea, marks significant wins for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who obtained the indictment in August. It allows her to avoid a prolonged trial and streamline the number of defendants.
This plea deal ensures that Chesebro takes public responsibility for his actions, removes the uncertainty of a jury trial, and compels him to testify about his communications with Trump’s campaign lawyers and associates, including co-defendant Rudy Giuliani.
Powell's deal involves six years of probation, a $6,000 fine, and a written apology to Georgia and its residents. She also agreed to testify truthfully against her co-defendants in future trials. The trial proceedings for Powell and Chesebro were set to begin, but with Powell's guilty plea, Chesebro was slated to proceed to trial alone.
