Current:Home > MarketsKenneth Chesebro rejected plea offer ahead of Georgia election trial: Sources -ApexWealth
Kenneth Chesebro rejected plea offer ahead of Georgia election trial: Sources
View
Date:2025-04-12 01:21:02
One of former President Donald Trump's co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case rejected a plea deal from prosecutors ahead of his trial this month, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Attorney Kenneth Chesebro, one of the 18 defendants charged alongside Trump in Fulton County case racketeering case, rejected an offer from prosecutors, the sources said.
The deal would have allowed Chesebro to avoid prison time by pleading guilty to one felony count of racketeering, the top charge in the indictment, according to the sources.
MORE: Jury selection to begin Friday in first Georgia election interference trial
He would have had to agree to testify against his codefendants -- including Trump -- in exchange for three years' probation and a $10,000 fine.
The terms of the deal also included a written letter of apology, the sources said. The deal would have been made under Georgia's first-offender act, under which the conviction would have been wiped from Chesebro's record after probation was completed.
Chesebro rejected the deal in late September, the sources said. He is facing seven counts after allegedly drafting a strategy to use so-called "alternate electors" to prevent Joe Biden from receiving 270 electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election, according to the indictment.
An attorney for Chesebro declined to comment to ABC News. A spokesperson for the Fulton County district attorney's office also declined to comment.
Chesebro's trial, alongside co-defendant Sidney Powell, is set to begin this week after the pair opted for a speedy trial. Jury selection gets underway on Friday.
Earlier in September, a Fulton County prosecutor indicated in court that they intended to extend deals to Chesebro and Powell ahead of trial.
"We'll sit down and kind of put some things together and we'll reach out to defense counsel individually to extend an offer," said prosecutor Nathan Wade when pressed by the judge.
Later that day, one of the 19 charged in the indictment became the first to accept a deal in the case. Scott Hall pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties in exchange for immunity and a fine, and agreed to testify against Trump and others.
In early October, ABC News reported that a number of the defendants in the Fulton County case had received plea deal offers or had been approached about potentially making a deal by the district attorney's office, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Trump and 18 others pleaded not guilty in August to all charges in a sweeping racketeering indictment for alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia.
The former president has blasted the district attorney's investigation as being politically motivated.
veryGood! (65)
Related
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- International Criminal Court says it detected ‘anomalous activity’ in its information systems
- UAW's Shawn Fain says he's fighting against poverty wages and greedy CEOs. Here's what to know.
- Tampa Bay Rays finalizing new ballpark in St. Petersburg as part of a larger urban project
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Mama bear, cub raid Krispy Kreme delivery van in Alaska, scarf dozens of doughnuts
- What to know about the Sikh movement at the center of the tensions between India and Canada
- Oprah chooses Wellness: A novel by Nathan Hill as new book club pick
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Australian wildfire danger causes fire ban in Sydney and closes schools
Ranking
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Migrants burst into southern Mexico asylum office demanding papers
- Israeli military sentences commander to 10 days in prison over shooting of Palestinian motorist
- Michigan State informs coach Mel Tucker it intends to fire him amid sexual harassment investigation
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- Attack on Turkish-backed opposition fighters in Syria kills 13 of the militants, activists say
- Rudy Giuliani sued by longtime former lawyer over alleged unpaid bills
- UAW strike Day 5: New Friday deadline set, in latest turn in union strategy
Recommendation
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
Trump attorney has no conflict in Stormy Daniels case, judge decides
Kim Kardashian Proves North West’s New Painting Is a Stroke of Genius
Attack on Turkish-backed opposition fighters in Syria kills 13 of the militants, activists say
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
From London, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif blames ex-army chief for his 2017 ouster
Why new fighting in Azerbaijan’s troubled region may herald a new war
Police probe report of dad being told 11-year-old girl could face charges in images sent to man