In a significant development in the 2020 election interference case involving former President Donald Trump, a Georgia judge dismissed two criminal counts against the Republican presidential candidate on Thursday. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee ruled that state prosecutors did not have the authority to pursue charges related to the alleged filing of false documents in federal court.
The decision came as part of an ongoing legal battle where Trump, along with 14 co-defendants, faces accusations of attempting to overturn his narrow defeat in Georgia during the 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors have built their case around the claim that Trump and his allies engaged in a coordinated scheme to reverse the election results in Georgia.
While McAfee dismissed two of the charges against Trump and one additional count against his associates, he allowed the remaining charges to proceed. This includes eight charges against Trump, keeping him at the center of a high-profile legal struggle as he campaigns for the presidency in 2024.
Both Trump and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to the racketeering and other related charges. These allegations, stemming from the broader investigation led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, represent one of several legal challenges Trump faces as he seeks to return to the White House.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the court’s dismissal of some charges narrows the scope of the case but underscores the seriousness of the remaining accusations. Trump’s defense team is expected to continue challenging the prosecution’s case, while the remaining charges could lead to continued political and legal scrutiny in the coming months.