Former President Donald Trump could potentially gain a strategic edge in an upcoming criminal case against him. Two of his former lawyers, who are also co-defendants, are set to go on trial
next week on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
"It's not necessarily going to make it impossible for the prosecutors, but, on balance, it is definitely better for Trump," said former federal prosecutor Harry Sandick. Trump, the leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has pleaded not guilty in all four cases.
"His lawyers will be able to observe the demeanor of witnesses, which definitely gives them an advantage in preparing their cross-examination and building their defense," said former federal prosecutor Chris Mattei.
Originally, Willis had sought to try all 19 defendants together, but this was rejected by Judge Scott McAffee. The judge stated that trying all defendants together would be unfair to individuals like Chesebro and Powell, who had demanded speedy trials.
"If you look at what one defendant did and they made all of the same arguments that you're going to make and they still get convicted, that makes cutting a deal a lot more attractive," Sandick said. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.