Former Trump Attorney Pleads Guilty to Election Interference Charges, But There's a Catch

Katie Pavlich | October 19, 2023 11:15 AM

Former Trump election attorney Sidney Powell, who once said "the Kraken" would be released to expose fraud in the 2020 presidential election, has pleaded guilty to a series of misdemeanor charges in Georgia. The felony charges, originally filed in August by Fulton Country District Attorney Fani Willis, have been dropped. Powell's trial was set to start next week. The plea deal also requires Powell to cooperate with the government against other defendants.

Fulton County prosecutors drop all 7 felony charges against Sidney Powell - in exchange for a misdemeanor plea.

They overcharged and they knew it. pic.twitter.com/fL9JkUTqkk
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) October 19, 2023

Powell was originally charged with felony racketeering, conspiracy to commit election fraud x2, conspiracy to commit computer theft, conspiracy to commit computer trespass, conspiracy to commit computer invasion of privacy, conspiracy to defraud the state
— Tamar Hallerman (@TamarHallerman) October 19, 2023

Powell is now pleading guilty of six counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties pic.twitter.com/EjSAbYwEVh
— Tamar Hallerman (@TamarHallerman) October 19, 2023

Seventeen other defendants, including President Donald Trump, face similar felony charges. Willis initially tried to put all defendants on trial at the same time, but was overruled by a judge in September.

"Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee separated the cases from two co-defendants whose trial will start Oct. 23. He didn't set a trial date for Trump. But McAfee set deadlines of Oct. 6 for prosecutors to share evidence with Trump's defense lawyers and Dec. 1 for filing arguments in the case," USA Today reported. "McAfee ruled the courthouse 'simply contains no courtroom adequately large enough to hold all 19 defendants, their multiple attorneys and support staff' and the prosecution team. McAfee also said multiple defendants at jury selection time would mean 'an already Herculean task becomes more unlikely.'"