A Georgia judge has rejected President Donald Trump’s motion to dismiss the charges brought against him by Fulton County’s Democrat District Attorney Fani Willis.
Trump’s lawyers sought to dismiss his 2020 “election interference” indictment on the grounds of First Amendment protection.
The motion was denied by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee on Thursday.
In his ruling, Judge McAfee stated:
“After considering the extensive briefing, the argument of counsel, and the indictment, the Court finds these vital constitutional protections do not reach the actions and statements alleged by the State.
“Nor do the statutes themselves facially violate the First Amendment.
“They argue this prosecution violates the First Amendment’s protections of political speech and activity, freedom of association, and the right to petition Congress as applied to their alleged conduct, and further contend that the indicted charges are overbroad,” he said.
McAfee said that after interpreting the indictment’s language “liberally in favor of the State as required at this pretrial stage, the Court finds that the Defendants’ expressions and speech are alleged to have been made in furtherance of criminal activity and constitute false statements knowingly and willfully made in matters within a government agency’s jurisdiction which threatens to deceive and harm the government.”
“Even core political speech addressing matters of public concern is not impenetrable from prosecution if allegedly used to further criminal activity,” he said.
“The defense has not presented, nor is the Court able to find, any authority that the speech and conduct alleged is protected political speech,” he added.
Meanwhile, scandal-hit special prosecutor Nathan Wade, Willis’s lover, has been accused of contempt of court by his estranged wife in a new divorce filing.
Wade was fired in disgrace from the Trump case after it emerged he had an improper affair with Willis and funded their relationship with taxpayer money.
Joycelyn Wade made the accusation in court papers filed Wednesday.
She says that her former partner had failed to pay $4,400 worth of her medical bills.
“Defendant urgently requires medical procedures, namely an endoscopy, colonoscopy, and ultrasound, due to severe physical symptoms she has been enduring,” the filings state.
“These symptoms have significantly impacted her ability to consume most foods, leading to a substantial weight loss.”
She claims she is unable to pay the bills herself since Wade stopped paying child support for their two children.
Nathan Wade has been at the center of a bitter divorce case, where it was revealed he had a relationship with DA Willis.
The scandal rocked the county’s case against Trump and Wade was forced to resign as top prosecutor.
Willis’s conduct was examined during a series of sensational hearings.
Judge McAfee ultimately blasted Willis over her “tremendous lapse in judgment” and for acting in an “unprofessional manner.”
However, she escaped with just a slap on the wrist.
McAfee dramatically ruled she could stay on the Trump case if Wade removed himself, which he did.
