Current:Home > reviewsKenneth Chesebro rejected plea offer ahead of Georgia election trial: Sources -Momentum Wealth Path
Kenneth Chesebro rejected plea offer ahead of Georgia election trial: Sources
View
Date:2025-04-18 18:01:26
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! (54)
Related
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Authorities investigate a house fire that killed three family members in northern Maine
- As some medical debt disappears from Americans' credit reports, scores are rising
- Sale of federal oil and gas leases in Gulf of Mexico off again pending hearings on whale protections
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Utah man says Grubhub delivery driver mistakenly gave him urine instead of milkshake
- As his minutes pile up, LeBron James continues to fuel Lakers. Will it come at a cost?
- American Ballet Theater returns to China after a decade as US-China ties show signs of improving
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- Florida Sen. Rick Scott endorses Trump over DeSantis in 2024 race
Ranking
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Investigators focus on railway inspection practices after fatal Colorado train derailment
- Disney to purchase remaining stake in Hulu for at least $8.61 billion, companies announce
- State funded some trips for ex-North Dakota senator charged with traveling to pay for sex with minor
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Director of new Godzilla film pursuing ‘Japanese spirituality’ of 1954 original
- AP Week in Pictures: North America
- Week 10 college football picks: Top 25 predictions, including two big SEC showdowns
Recommendation
Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
'The Reformatory' tells a story of ghosts, abuse, racism — and sibling love
'All the Light We Cannot See' is now a Netflix series. You're better off reading the book
Suspect in Tupac Shakur's murder has pleaded not guilty
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Iranian club Sepahan penalized over canceled ACL match after Saudi team’s walkout
AP Week in Pictures: Latin America and Caribbean
Trump classified documents trial could be delayed, as judge considers schedule changes