Judge McAfee Splits Trial of Donald Trump and 18 Other Defendants Charged with Election Interference into Two Separate Trials

Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee ruled Thursday that the trial of former President Donald Trump and 18 other defendants charged with election interference will be split into two separate trials. The first trial, involving defendants Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, is scheduled to begin on October 23.

Judge McAfee cited logistical concerns as the reason for the split. The Fulton County Courthouse does not have a courtroom large enough to accommodate all 19 defendants, their attorneys, support staff, sheriff’s deputies, court personnel, and the State’s prosecutorial team.

The remaining 17 defendants will be tried at a later date, with all pretrial deadlines proceeding as scheduled. Judge McAfee stated that the decision to split the trials was “simply a procedural and logistical inevitability.”

The defendants are charged with violating Georgia racketeering laws in an effort to overturn the 2020 election. The charges include conspiracy, making false statements, and solicitation of election fraud.

The trial of Chesebro and Powell is expected to be the first of the two trials. It will be held in Fulton County, Georgia, and is scheduled to begin on October 23. The trial for the remaining 17 defendants is expected to follow at a later date.