A supporter of former US President Donald Trump wants to cooperate with the public prosecutor’s office in the election fraud case in the state of Georgia against Trump and others. Attorney Sidney Powell pleaded guilty in court to several crimes, including participating in a conspiracy to commit election fraud. The Atlanta court ordered Powell to be placed on probation for six years and to pay a fine of thousands of dollars. She must also write a letter of apology to the citizens of Georgia and testify “truthfully” about the case in future trials against other defendants.
Powell is the second person, after a less prominent defendant, to make a deal with prosecutors in the case to avoid a trial and a possible prison sentence. Her turnaround is surprising and significant. Powell was considered a steadfast supporter of Trump and was said to have been involved in various important conversations. Their insights could be useful to prosecutors in the prosecution of Trump.
Trump was indicted in Georgia along with 18 other defendants – including Powell. The group is accused of attempting to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in the state. The prosecution uses a law that is actually intended to put a stop to mafia gangs and similar organizations. Trump was also indicted at the federal level in a separate case for his influence on the 2020 election.
Trump lost the election against Democrat Joe Biden, including in Georgia. But to this day he refuses to admit defeat. Instead, Trump claims he was deprived of a victory by massive voter fraud. After the 2020 election, the Republican tried in various ways to subsequently change the election results – including by putting pressure on political leaders at the federal level and in states such as Georgia. Powell had asked for an expedited trial in her case – jury selection for her trial was scheduled to begin this Friday.