Current:Home > MarketsTrump may try to have his Georgia election interference case removed to federal court-LoTradeCoin
Trump may try to have his Georgia election interference case removed to federal court
View Date:2024-12-23 19:49:21
Attorneys for former President Donald Trump have notified Georgia state court in Fulton County that they may seek to remove his election interference case to federal court, according to a court filing.
If Trump seeks removal to federal court, he would be the sixth defendant in District Attorney Fani Willis' sweeping racketeering case to do so, joining former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, former DOJ official, Jeffrey Clark, former Coffee County GOP chair Cathy Latham, current Georgia state Sen. Shawn Still, and former Georgia GOP chair David Shafer.
Meadows' motion for removal, filed on Aug. 15 by his attorney George Terwilliger and Atlanta-based attorney Joseph Englert, is based on a federal law that they argue requires the removal of criminal proceedings brought in state court to the federal court system when someone is charged for actions they allegedly took as a federal official acting "under color" of their office.
MORE: Why Trump, other Georgia defendants might try to get cases removed to federal court
Shafer, in a separate filing Thursday, accused one of the lead prosecutors in the case of an "improper communication" with him after he was charged -- and is requesting an evidentiary hearing and sanctions on the matter.
Shafer, who was one of Trump's so-called "fake electors" in the alleged election interference plot, claims in the filing that the private law firm of Fulton County special prosecutor Nathan Wade sent a mailer to his home essentially offering him representation by the firm of the prosecutor that indicted him.
The filing says the front of the brochure sent to Shafer's home "features a photo of Special Prosecutor Wade and [his partner] smiling." The inside, the filing states, directs Shafer to "please contact us today to discuss your criminal case."
The filing also says that the mailer included a letter with Shafer's name on it, written by special prosecutor Wade's partner, with the subject "IMPERSONATING A PUBLIC OFFICER"-- the very charge that Shafer faces in the indictment.
Shafer's attorney, Craig Gillen, says in the filing that the mailer is in "violation of the anti-contact provision," but claims that it is "far more egregious than a typical violation of the rule, given the fact that it constitutes a communication with a criminal defendant by the lead prosecuting attorney's law firm regarding charges in which the attorney has been responsible for bringing."
The filing asks the judge in the case to hold an evidentiary hearing on the matter.
The Fulton County district attorney's office declined to comment when contacted by ABC News.
Wade's law partner in his private firm did not immediately return a request for comment.
Trump and 18 others have pleaded not guilty to all charges in a Fulton County indictment for alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia.
The former president says his actions were not illegal and that the investigation is politically motivated.
veryGood! (3311)
Related
- Denzel Washington teases retirement — and a role in 'Black Panther 3'
- Climate change, fossil fuels hurting people's health, says new global report
- Tourists find the Las Vegas Strip remade for its turn hosting Formula One
- 2 more endangered Florida panthers struck and killed by vehicles, wildlife officials say
- Could trad wives, influencers have sparked the red wave among female voters?
- Israel says Hamas is using Gaza’s biggest hospital for cover. Hundreds of people are trapped inside
- CBS shows are back after actors' strike ends. Here are the 2024 premiere dates
- The SAG-AFTRA strike is over. Here are 6 things actors got in the new contract.
- Candidates line up for special elections to replace Virginia senators recently elected to US House
- A missing sailor’s last message from Hurricane Otis was to ask his family to pray for him
Ranking
- Opinion: NFL began season with no Black offensive coordinators, first time since the 1980s
- NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament: Bracket, schedule, seeds for 2023 championship
- 2 men charged in October shooting that killed 12-year-old boy, wounded second youth in South Bend
- Why Jacob Elordi Is Throwing Shade at Ridiculous Kissing Booth Movies
- Chris Wallace will leave CNN 3 years after defecting from 'Fox News Sunday'
- Coast Guard searching Gulf after man reported missing from Carnival cruise ship
- Donald Trump Jr. returns to witness stand as New York fraud trial enters new phase
- Roland Pattillo helped keep Henrietta Lacks' story alive. It's key to his legacy
Recommendation
-
FSU football fires offensive, defensive coordinators, wide receivers coach
-
It wasn't always the biggest shopping holiday of the year. Why is it called Black Friday?
-
Inflation eased in October as cheaper gas offset overall price increases
-
Bruce Willis' Wife Emma Heming Shares Why She Struggles With Guilt Amid His Health Journey
-
Celtics' Jaylen Brown calls Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo a 'child' over fake handshake
-
Travis Kelce Gets the Ultimate Stamp of Approval From Taylor Swift’s BFF Abigail
-
Sen. Tim Scott announces he's dropping out of 2024 presidential race
-
Arby's debuts new meal inspired by 'Good Burger 2' ahead of movie's release on Paramount+