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Donald Trump may “never” be brought to trial in Georgia, according to legal analysts


Donald Trump may “never” be brought to trial in Georgia, according to legal analysts

President-elect Donald Trump may “never” be tried in Georgia after his victory in this year's presidential election, according to legal analysts.

Trump, who was convicted in New York in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records, faces 13 felony charges in Georgia related to his alleged role in trying to illegally overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election in the Peach State close.

The president-elect also still has to deal with special counsel Jack Smith's federal election subversion case, while another federal case involving classified documents has already been dismissed by Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon.

While the federal case against Trump is all but certain to be dropped before Trump returns to the White House on Jan. 20, the future of the remaining federal case is less clear because Trump will not have the power to personally intervene.

Donald Trump Georgia Case Prosecution Election 2024
President-elect Donald Trump is pictured during his victory speech on November 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Legal analysts say Trump's return to power means he may “never” be tried in the 2020 election…


Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Anthony Michael Kreis, a professor of constitutional law and political scientist at the Georgia State College of Law, told the BBC on Wednesday that Trump could not be tried in Georgia until after his expected departure from office in January 2029.

“The bottom line is that Donald Trump will not be tried in the state of Georgia,” Kreis said. “Will there be any political will to try him in Georgia by the end of the second Trump administration? That’s a long time since the first crime.”

Dave Aronberg, prosecutor for Palm Beach County, Florida and former Democratic state representative, said Newsweek via a direct message

“I agree with Professor Kreis,” Aronberg said. “Trump will not be tried in Georgia until his term expires, and perhaps never, depending on what the appeals courts say.”

Regardless of whether the Georgia case is thrown out or revived after the president-elect leaves office, Trump has no power and will have no power to reverse his convictions in New York because the president's pardon power does not extend to state ones cases extends.

Judge Juan Merchan is currently scheduled to sentence Trump on November 26th in New York. If the hearing goes as planned and a penalty is imposed, Trump could still face a fine or prison time, suspended or deferred until he leaves office.

During an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday, former Attorney General Bill Barr called on Attorney General Merrick Garland and prosecutors – the New York case was prosecuted by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg – to drop all criminal cases against Trump because of his election victory.

“I think Attorney General Garland and the prosecutors should respect the people’s decision and drop the cases against President Trump now,” Barr said.

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