Georgia Appeals Court to Review Fulton County DA’s Case Against Trump
An appeals court in Georgia has agreed to review a ruling that allows Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to prosecute the election interference case against former President Donald Trump. This decision is expected to cause a delay in the case, potentially pushing any trials beyond the upcoming November election, where Trump is likely to be the Republican nominee for president. This ruling comes shortly after a Florida judge postponed the trial date for Trump’s classified documents case.
Conflict of Interest Allegations
Trump and other defendants in Georgia had raised concerns about a conflict of interest due to Willis's romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. However, Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee determined in March that there was no conflict of interest that would require Willis to step down from the case. Despite this ruling, Trump and the other defendants have been granted permission to appeal the decision to the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Additional Insights
Recent developments in the legal proceedings against Trump have sparked discussions about the impartiality of prosecutors and the impact of personal relationships on legal cases. The review by the appeals court will shed light on the complexities of the case and the legal principles at play.
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Court of Appeals to Review Trump Case in Georgia
An intermediate court in Georgia has decided to hear the case involving former President Trump. The losing party will have the option to appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court after the ruling.
Trump's lead attorney, Steve Sadow, expressed eagerness to present arguments to the appeals court for the dismissal of the case and the disqualification of prosecutor Willis due to alleged misconduct.
On the other hand, a spokesperson for Willis chose not to comment on the Court of Appeals' decision to take up the matter.
Legal Proceedings and Allegations
Judge McAfee, in a previous order, raised concerns about the appearance of impropriety in the prosecution. He stated that Willis could only continue if Wade, the special prosecutor, left the case. Wade subsequently resigned following this directive.
Allegations of improper conduct between Willis and Wade led to a tumultuous period in the case, with personal details of their relationship being revealed in court. This overshadowed the serious charges against Trump and others in the election-related case.
Trump and 18 others face charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia illegally. The defendants are accused of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law.
Appeal and Response
Trump and his co-defendants argued in their appeal that McAfee erred in not removing both Willis and Wade from the case. They contended that allowing Willis to remove Wade alone was illogical and against Georgia law.
The allegations against Willis and Wade emerged in a motion filed by a lawyer representing a former Trump campaign staffer. The motion claimed an inappropriate relationship between the prosecutors, with financial benefits involved.
Willis and Wade admitted to the relationship but stated that it began after Wade was hired and ended before the case gained attention. They maintained that their financial dealings were fair and transparent.
Current Status
Four individuals implicated in the case have already pleaded guilty, while Trump and the remaining defendants maintain their innocence. The legal battle continues as the Court of Appeals prepares to review the proceedings.
Despite the ongoing legal challenges, the case against Trump and his associates underscores the complexities of election-related investigations and the legal ramifications involved.
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Georgia Court to Reconsider Decision Allowing Fani Willis to Continue Prosecuting Trump
President Yoon Seok-yeol Reinstates Office of Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs: Roles and Scope Explained
◀ Again ▶
President Yoon Seok-yeol explained his intention to listen to public sentiment by reinstating the office of senior secretary to the president for civil affairs, but did not explain its exact role and scope of the job.
It seems necessary to organize and explain whether the functions of the past civil administration, which were dispersed in other bodies, especially tasks such as personnel verification of public officials and management of relatives, will be resumed.
This was reported by journalist Kim Min-chan.
◀ Report ▶
In the last administration, the job of the senior secretary to the president for civil affairs was divided into six main areas.
Gather public opinion on government affairs, inspect the service of public officials, and respond to legal questions.
This also included managing relatives, vetting staff and managing rating agencies.
President Yoon simply said that he would listen to public sentiment without taking control of evaluation bodies such as the police and prosecutors.
[윤석열 대통령 (어제)]
“I heard the president’s staff say, ‘It appears that public sentiment on the front lines has not been conveyed well to the president.’
Concern is relative care.
This is a function that has virtually disappeared under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, but the need has become even greater as suspicions around First Lady Kim Kun-hee continue to grow.
[조국/조국혁신당 대표 (지난달 30일, MBC 라디오 ′권순표의 뉴스하이킥′)]
″One of the important roles that the Office of the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs must play is monitoring the President, the First Lady and their families. The first lady and family are very uncomfortable with the senior secretary for civil affairs.”
If the relative management function is created, there is a possibility that Lee Won-mo, a former personnel secretary appointed as public service discipline secretary, will be appointed.
However, it is known that former Secretary Lee and his wife are close to President Yoon and his wife.
It was also revealed through MBC’s coverage that the civil wife accompanied First Lady Kim Kun-hee on her trip on the president’s private plane.
It is also an interesting question whether the Office of the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs will reinstate personnel verification.
This function was transferred to the Ministry of Justice under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, stating that it would act like the US FBI, but with the reinstatement of the Office of the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs, a readjustment of the job is unavoidable.
[김주현/대통령실 민정수석 (어제)]
“As you are well aware of the previous functions of the Office of the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs and the like, we are trying to quickly understand the scope of the work and workload and organize it.”
Every day the opposition looks with suspicion at the restoration of the Office of the Senior Secretary of the President for Civil Affairs, including the use of control over the Special Prosecutor’s Evaluation and Defense Agency, and even the suspicion of interference in the staff of power of attorney.
Another thing the President should do during the press conference is to explain more transparently and clearly the scope and role of the Office of the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs.
This is Minchan Kim from MBC News.
Video Coverage: Go Heon-ju / Video Editing: Woo Seong-ho
#revamped #kin #management #function #Office #Senior #Secretary #President #Civil #Affairs
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Andrés Calle described it as “infamy” that he was involved in acts of corruption of the Ungrd
The current president of the House of Representatives, Andrés Calle, referred to the corruption scandal in the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (Ungrd) to bring drinking water to communities that lack this vital service in La Guajira and in which was implicated by the former deputy director of that entity, Sneyder Pinilla.
“We are facing the worst infamy and the truth will be known, and Justice will make it known,” he stated before the television news cameras Noticias RCN, as he left the Congress premises on the night of Tuesday, May 7.
In that media outlet they also investigated the alleged chats that are supposed to be included in the collaboration matrix with the justice system that the former director of the Ungrd will present to the Prosecutor’s Office with a view to approving a principle of opportunity within the investigation they are carrying out. for these facts.
“Speedity and objectivity to Justice,” he said briefly on Noticias RCN when he hurriedly left, along with his security scheme, the headquarters of the Legislature.
The representative of the Liberal Party, although he appeared at the plenary session that was scheduled in the corporation he presides for a new debate within the bill that seeks to prohibit bullfighting in Colombia, did not speak out, despite the fact that He was rebuked by some of his colleagues, reported in the newspaper El Espectador.
In that newspaper they highlighted the intervention of Congresswoman Jennifer Pedraza, of the Dignity and Commitment movement, who reminded him that he was one of those who acquitted former Attorney General Néstor Humberto Martínez in the Commission of Accusations, when they initiated a preliminary investigation for his actions within of the corruption network with the Brazilian multinational Odebrecht.
“He has every right to defend himself in justice. Obviously, I am not condemning him, the Colombian justice system will have to do that. But the House of Representatives respects itself. Andrés Calle must step aside from his position,” they quoted from Pedraza’s statements.
The chats
According to these alleged WhatsApp conversations, Calle was offered 1,000 million pesos to expedite the process of the social reforms that the Government of President Gustavo Petro seeks to implement in the country.
In the newspaper El Tiempo they published the WhatsApp conversations where Pinilla, following instructions from the former director of the Ungrd, Olmedo López, organized a meeting with Calle in the city of Montería (Córdoba), taking advantage of a trip to the region.
These meetings apparently took place on October 14, 2023, when they met, presumably, at the young politician’s house after he shared his location and expressed his anticipation to receive him.
“Good morning Dr, writes Sneyder Pinilla, deputy director of management Ungrd. I ARRIVED in Monteria at half a day (sic)”, was the text that the former official sent that day to the president of the Chamber, who apparently responded with enthusiasm. “The director sent me to meet with you. Tell me where I can arrive at that time. It is a somewhat reserved place, please,” Pinilla indicated in the conversation, to which Calle Aguas agreed, inviting him to his apartment.
In another conversation he stated: “I have already arrived in Monteria. I’m leaving for Pto.escomddio for an event and around 11 am I return to see each other,” commented the former official.
To which the liberal congressman responded: “Ok. I’ll wait for you at noon (sic).” At 12:56 midnight on October 14, Pinilla notified the president of the Chamber that he was ready for the meeting. It was then that Andrés Calle suggested that they could meet at his apartment: located in the K62 La Castellana building. With Infobae
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Andrés Calle described it as “infamy” that he was involved in acts of corruption of the Ungrd