Alina Habba, attorney for former President Donald Trump and general counsel for the Save America PAC, says the Georgia charges belong in federal court.
Unlike the president’s three former indictments, this fourth indictment was handed up in a state court.
Ms. Habba had made a Tuesday appearance on the show as well, saying the case did not belong in a state court in the first place.
Mark Meadows, former chief of staff to President Trump, was the first of the 19 defendants to file a motion to remove the case to federal court. Others are expected to do the same.
“This case should be removed, this indictment is exactly the type of state interference in a federal official’s duty that the supremacy clause in the United States Constitution prohibits,” she said, without specifying when they would do so.
“If the case is removed to federal court there will not be cameras in the courtroom. Ms. Willis seems to want this case to be televised. I’m sure she’s very proud of herself, but let’s remember how easy it is to indict someone. This indictment does not mean a conviction. It’s not a crime to contest an election,” Ms. Halligan added, accusing the prosecutor of exercising “artistic license” in her application of the law.
“Legislative intent when drafting laws matters, and none of the laws President Trump is charged with in these four indictments were drafted with the intent to charge the offenses he is being charged with,” she said.
Ms. Halligan and Ms. Habba both suggested the conspiracy strategy may backfire, as the prosecutors in the four cases against President Trump should remain independent and not be in touch with each other, but they are concerned this may not be the case.
DA Proposes March 4 Trial
The attorneys for President Trump also dismissed the believability of going to trial in six months, which Ms. Willis had promised after the indictment.“Theres no way this case will be tried in 6 months,” said Ms. Halligan on Tuesday. She added that it was a “laughable” timeline to anyone who practices law, especially given that another RICO case brought by Ms. Willis began jury selection in January and has yet to finalize selection. “Within six months, during election time, what a coincidence.”
Ms. Willis also said she plans to try all 19 defendants together. But the proposed trial timeline only gives 10 days for discovery.
In Ms. Habba’s Tuesday interview, she explained that six months was tight for discovery.
“I think everybody has to understand that when you bring something of this magnitude, when you bring these many defendants, you’re now going to have 19 different counsel, you’re going to have 19 different requests for discovery, 19 different people you’re going to have to fight motions against ... it’s not easy,” she said. “It’s unrealistic.”
He has repeatedly rebuked his prosecutors for interfering with his campaign and bringing belated charges while ignoring claims of 2020 election interference.
“Based on the results of this conclusive report, all charges should be dropped against me and others—There will be a complete exoneration!” President Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They never went after those that rigged the election. They only went after those that fought to find the riggers!”