(GoRealNewsNow.com) – HAPPENING NOW: Scott Hall has become the initial co-defendant alongside former President Donald Trump to admit guilt in the Georgia election interference investigation. On Friday in Atlanta, Hall conceded to five misdemeanor conspiracy offenses. Hall has agreed to testify against Trump and the other defendants as part of his plea arrangement.
Hall’s guilty plea is the first among those accused with Trump concerning a broad racketeering conspiracy aimed at nullifying Trump’s 2020 electoral defeat by President Joe Biden.
During a session in Fulton County Superior Court, Hall verified to Judge Scott McAfee that his agreement entails testifying in upcoming stages of the case, which includes the trials of other co-defendants such as Trump.
The deal stipulates that Hall, a 59-year-old bail bondsman, will undergo five years of probation, be fined $5,000, and commit to 200 hours of community service.
Judge McAfee further directed Hall to pen an apology note to Georgia and abstain from election-related activities.
The recent indictment accused Hall of intentionally meddling with electronic voting machines in Coffee County, Georgia. He also allegedly collaborated with others, like the pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell.
Initially, Hall faced seven criminal charges, which were later reduced to five misdemeanor conspiracy counts related to election interference, which he pleaded guilty to.
The Fulton County District Attorney’s spokesperson did not immediately comment on Hall’s plea.
In parallel developments, a federal judge in Georgia rejected attempts by several co-defendants, namely Jeffrey Clark, Cathy Latham, David Shafer, and Shawn Still, to transfer their cases to federal court from Fulton County court.
While Trump’s legal team hinted at moving his trial to a federal court, they changed course, telling Judge McAfee on Thursday that they won’t pursue this. Trump’s attorney, Steven Sadow, mentioned in the document, “This decision is based on his well-founded confidence that this honorable court intends to fully and completely protect his constitutional right to a fair trial and guarantee him due process of law throughout the prosecution of his case.”
The decision may be influenced by the unsuccessful attempt of Mark Meadows, Trump’s former White House chief of staff, to relocate his trial to a federal court in the same matter. Meadows is contesting the denial of his transfer request.
Meanwhile, Sidney Powell and another co-defendant, Kenneth Chesebro, are scheduled for trial starting Oct. 23. Both defendants, who practice law, had asked for their trials to be expedited.
On Friday, Judge Scott McAfee dismissed Chesebro’s plea to have the charges against him dropped.