Rudy Giuliani is among 19 people charged Photo: AFP
Rudy Giuliani pleaded not guilty to Georgia charges on Friday , in which he is accused of trying, along with Donald Trump and others, to illegally overturn the results of the state's 2020 election.
By filing a not guilty plea, the former New York City mayor and Trump's lawyer also waived his right to appear at the arraignment hearing scheduled for September 6.
He joins the former president and at least 10 others who refuse to travel to Atlanta to appear before a judge in a crowded courtroom with a news camera on.
Trump and Giuliani are among 19 people accused of an extensive 41-count indictment detailing a wide-ranging conspiracy to thwart the will of Georgia voters who chose Democrat Joe Biden over Republican incumbent.
The allegations against Giuliani, along with other legal issues, signal a startling downfall for the man who was hailed as «America's mayor» after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
He now faces 13 charges, including violating Georgia's anti-racketeering law, the federal version of which was one of his favorite tools as a prosecutor in the 1980s.
Rudy Giuliani at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta Photo: AP
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said she wants to try all 19 defendants together. However, litigation has already begun since the filing of the indictment on August 14.
Some of the defendants have filed motions to be tried alone or with a small group of other defendants, while others are trying to take the case to federal court. Some are demanding that they be tried as soon as possible in accordance with a Georgia court order that will begin trials by early November, while others are already asking the court to extend the deadlines.
Due to the “complexity, breadth and volume 98-page indictment,» Giuliani in Friday's minutes asked the judge to give him at least 30 days after he receives witness information and evidence from prosecutors to file motions. Normally, pre-trial motions must be filed within 10 days of arraignment.
Also on Friday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp appointed a three-member panel to consider whether Sean Still should be removed from his State Senate position while his prosecution continues.
Under Georgia law, Kemp must appoint such commission within 14 days of receipt of a copy of the indictment.
The commission, in turn, has 14 days to give Mr. Kemp a written recommendation. The Republican Governor has appointed Attorney General Chris Carr, as required by law, as well as State Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch and House Republican Majority Leader Chuck Efstration.
Mr. Still is a swimming contractor and former former chairman of the state GOP finance department.
He was one of 16 Georgia Republicans who signed a certificate falsely claiming that Mr. Trump won the state and declaring himself «duly elected and qualified» state electors. Still was one of three members of this group who were indicted.
Mr. Still was elected to the Georgia State Senate in November 2022 and represents a district in the northern suburbs of Atlanta.
It is unclear whether the commission will find grounds for removing Mr. Still, as the constitution states that officials must be removed from office if a felony charge is «related to the work or activities of the office.»
The commission of three people can hold a hearing in Still's case, including lawyers.
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