One of the architects of the Trump campaign’s 2020 fake electors plot has been denied the ability to withdraw his guilty plea in Georgia’s election subversion case, as ruled by a judge on Friday.
Pro-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to file false documents in connection with the fake electors plot. He was indicted in the Fulton County district attorney’s racketeering case against President-elect Donald Trump and several other prominent Republicans.
Although the judge overseeing the case had dismissed the charge for some other defendants who were still contesting the case, Chesebro attempted to leverage this decision to withdraw his own guilty plea. However, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee determined on Friday that Chesebro’s guilty plea would remain in effect.
In his ruling, Judge McAfee stated that Chesebro’s motion was “procedurally defective in more ways than one” and that he did not have the jurisdiction to grant the requested relief, leading to the dismissal of the request.
Chesebro received a probation sentence in the Georgia case, while charges are still pending against Trump and 14 co-defendants. The future of the case remains uncertain due to Trump’s upcoming presidency and a pending appeal related to potential misconduct by prosecutors.
