On Thursday, September 12, 2024, a win was chalked up for former President Donald Trump in Georgia when three more charges in the election interference case against him and his team were dismissed.
The decision was issued by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who dropped two counts that Trump was facing personally while maintaining the principal racketeering allegation.
The judge based his decision on the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This clause states that federal law takes precedence over state law in case of any disputes. The counts that were dismissed related to the submission of supposedly false documents in a federal court, an act that the judge deemed to be outside the purview of state jurisdiction.
“Punishment for filing certain documents would enable a state to constrict the scope of materials assessed by a federal court and impair the administration of justice in that tribunal,” stated McAfee in his ruling.
The counts that were nullified—14, 15, and 27—were all related to the submission of allegedly fraudulent documents to a federal court in Atlanta, Georgia. Out of these, two counts implicated Trump directly, thus reducing the total felony counts against him from 13 to eight.
This update comes on the heels of a March ruling in which six other counts in the indictment were dismissed by Judge McAfee. Despite these dismissals, 32 felony charges are still standing against Trump, including the main racketeering allegation.
Steve Sadow, Trump’s lead defense attorney, celebrated the decision, stating, “President Trump and his legal team in Georgia have prevailed once again.”
The case, brought forward by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, initially indicted Trump and 18 others on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Four out of these defendants have since pleaded guilty.
However, the case is presently facing a stumbling block. The proceedings are on hold for Trump and nine other defendants as the Georgia Court of Appeals deliberates whether Willis can continue to be a part of the case. This pause is a result of allegations of misconduct related to Willis’ romantic relationship with a leading prosecutor, Nathan Wade, who has since resigned.
Oral arguments on this issue are slated for December 5, and a decision is not expected until the subsequent year. Consequently, the counts in question will not be officially dismissed for the affected defendants until their cases are restarted.
Trump’s legal battles paint a complex picture. While he faces ongoing challenges in Georgia, other cases against the former president have hit roadblocks. A federal judge in Florida dismissed the classified documents case, and the federal election interference case has been delayed and reduced due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting broad immunity from criminal prosecution to presidents for many official acts.
In a contrasting development, a New York jury found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts in May, underlining the varied outcomes in his multiple legal battles.
While the dismissal of these charges is a win for Trump, it does not derail the broader case against him in Georgia. The racketeering charge, which alleges a comprehensive conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results, has been specifically upheld by Judge McAfee. This charge covers actions beyond those addressed in the dismissed counts.
As the legal and political drama unfolds, the nation’s attention continues to be riveted on Georgia. The result of this case could potentially have a significant impact on both the former president and the American electoral system.