Did Sidney Powell Flip on Trump? What We Know About Guilty Plea
Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis pleads guilty over efforts to overturn Georgia’s election - 10/23/23
Georgia DA Offers ‘Nothingburger’ Plea Deals To Build Parade Of Witnesses For Later Show Trials - 10/28/23
by Rachel Dobkins, Newsweek, October 19, 2023
Donald Trump's former lawyer Sidney Powell agreed to a plea deal on Thursday, just days before the Fulton County trial stemming from alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election was set to begin.
The former president and 18 co-conspirators were indicted in August and charged with violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act, among other crimes. Trump has maintained his innocence, calling the case a "travesty of justice."
"The ridiculous and baseless indictment of me by the Biden administration's weaponized Department of Injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country," he said during a speech following the indictment.
One day before jury selection, Powell accepted a plea deal that includes six years' probation, a $6,000 fine, $2,700 restitution to the state of Georgia, an apology letter to Georgia residents, and to testify truthfully at trial, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. (Editor's Note: In exchange Prosecutor Fani Willis dropped all 7 felonies charges against Powell)
While it's unclear what Powell's testimony will entail until she is put on the stand, prosecutors likely saw a value in Powell's unique access to her co-conspirators, according to former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance.
Plea Deals Do Not Prove Election Conspiracy in GA:
"This is exactly what the Fulton County, DA hoped would happen: Scott Hall's plea would lead them to Powell, whose own plea deal could lead them to...bigger fish without trial dates," MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin said on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday.
Scott Hall, a Georgia bail bondsman whose brother-in-law was Trump's deputy campaign manager in 2016, was the first to flip on the former president. He accepted a plea deal and cooperation agreement with prosecutors in exchange for the dismissal of some of the charges against him and a recommendation of a reduced sentence of five years probation.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available.
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Molly McCann Sander on Twitter:
Sidney Powell is absolutely innocent. The fact that Fani Willis dropped all 7 felonies tells the tale. She had no case, but she did have the coercive power of the state. Criminal prosecution is crushing, and it has become clear that juries are no longer the protection to unjust prosecution they were created to be. Juries in these Democrat strongholds convict political opponents. It’s that chilling and simple. And the process of a trial alone is, as I say, crushing. She hasn’t “flipped.” She has made the right decision for herself and her family. The rest of us should be very afraid, though. Why should any successful lawyer put his or her head above the foxhole in future election struggles if the weaponized state can manufacture crimes to destroy them after the fact?
