A Fulton County judge has quashed six counts in the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants. Judge Scott McAfee ruled that the state failed to provide sufficient detail for the counts of “solicitation of violation of oath by public officer.”
The judge noted that the indictment did not specify the nature of the underlying felony that the defendants were accused of soliciting. In Georgia, state law prohibits public officers from violating their oaths.
District Attorney Fani Willis had alleged that Trump and his co-defendants attempted to persuade state officials to overturn the 2020 election results. The indictment referenced requests made to Georgia legislators and efforts to solicit the Georgia Secretary of State to decertify the election.
The defendants challenged the counts on the grounds of lack of detail in the indictment. McAfee agreed, stating that the indictment should have alleged an underlying felony solicited by the defendants.
Willis did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the judge’s ruling. Trump’s attorney, Steve Sadow, praised McAfee’s decision to quash the counts against his client.
In addition to this case, McAfee is also presiding over allegations that Willis hired special counsel Nathan Wade when they were romantically involved. A decision on whether McAfee will be disqualified from the case is expected soon.
