Georgia judge sets Oct. 23 trial date for Trump co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro

A Georgia judge on Thursday signed off on a quick turnaround to the start of the trial for Kenneth Chesebro, one of 18 defendants charged alongside former President Donald Trump in connection with alleged efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results. 

The ruling, scheduling an Oct. 23 start to Chesebro's trial, came just after Trump's newly appointed attorney said he would move to sever the former president's case from Chesebro or any other defendant who sought an expedited timeline. 

Earlier Thursday, Fani Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, asked Judge Scott McAfee to set Oct. 23 as the start of the trial for all defendants. Her office's request came after Chesebro had demanded a speedy trial, which under Georgia law gave Willis' office until the end of October to begin the case.

Willis previously proposed that the trial should start for all 19 defendants on March 4, 2024.

McAfee approved the Oct. 23 trial date for Chesebro only, specifying that the accelerated timeline for the trial and pretrial proceedings "do[es] not apply to any co-defendant."

The Oct. 23 date was sure to elicit pushback from more defendants given the complexity of the case and the mountains of evidence that defense teams are entitled to review before any trial begins. In each of the three other cases in which Trump faces charges, his attorneys have asked for trials to be delayed beyond the presidential election next November.

It's unclear when McAfee might decide on a trial schedule for the remaining defendants.

Chesebro, an attorney who supported Trump, filed a "demand for speedy trial" on Aug. 23. 

"Without waiving any objection as to the sufficiency of defendant Kenneth John Chesebro's filing, the state requests that this court specifically set the trial in this case to commence on October 23, 2023," Willis wrote in response. 

Scott Grubman, an attorney for Chesebro, said in a statement that his client "will be prepared to move forward with trial for whatever date the Court ultimately sets." In an earlier statement, Grubman said Chesebro "maintains his innocence and remains confident as the legal process continues."

Trump and 18 of his associates were indicted on racketeering, election fraud and other charges last week related to alleged attempts to overturn the state's 2020 election results.

The new proposed trial date comes as defendants in the case, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, continue to turn themselves in ahead of a noon Friday deadline to surrender. Trump is expected to arrive in Fulton County for processing on Thursday evening and has denied all wrongdoing. Giuliani has also maintained his innocence.

Graham Kates

Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering criminal justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. Contact Graham at [email protected] or [email protected]