In a significant development in the ongoing legal battle, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has dismissed three counts in the indictment against former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants related to allegations of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
Two of the dismissed charges involved Trump, who now faces eight felony counts in the state.
The dismissed charges pertained to the filing of fake elector certificates with a federal court, claiming Trump had won the election in Georgia despite losing to Democrat Joe Biden by approximately 12,000 votes.
Judge McAfee ruled that these charges fell under federal jurisdiction, not state law, citing the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
The indictment, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, accuses Trump and 18 co-defendants, including former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and ex-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, of racketeering and other offenses.
Four co-defendants have pleaded guilty to lesser charges, receiving deals that spared them prison time.
The case has been put on hold since June, pending an appeals court decision on whether DA Willis should be disqualified due to allegations of misconduct. The Georgia Court of Appeals is set to hear arguments in December.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges, including conspiracy to commit false documents and solicitation of violation of oath by public officer.
A separate federal case and a New York criminal case are also ongoing against Trump.
