A Georgia appeals court has temporarily halted the criminal case against Donald Trump, which accuses him of involvement in a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. The court order, issued on Wednesday, puts the case on hold while it considers Trump's appeal to disqualify lead prosecutor Fani Willis.
This pause prevents the case from progressing to trial while Trump challenges a judge's decision to allow Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, to continue leading the prosecution. It suggests that the trial will not take place before the upcoming November 5 election, as part of Trump's efforts to return to the White House.
Trump faces multiple legal challenges, including a recent guilty verdict in a New York case related to hush money payments to a porn star, which he intends to appeal. Additionally, federal cases accusing him of attempting to overturn the election and mishandling classified documents post-presidency have encountered legal obstacles.
In the Georgia case, Trump and eight co-defendants aim to disqualify Willis' office due to concerns about a potential conflict of interest stemming from her alleged romantic relationship with a former deputy. Prosecutors plan to appeal a prior ruling that dismissed some charges from the indictment.
Judge Scott McAfee, overseeing the case in Fulton County, had previously signaled his intention to address pre-trial legal matters during the appeal process. However, the recent court order prohibits any action until the appeal is resolved, which is expected to take several months. Oral arguments are scheduled for October.
Trump and his co-defendants maintain their innocence against charges of racketeering and other offenses linked to an alleged scheme to overturn the narrow defeat Trump faced in Georgia during the 2020 election.
