Proceedings against former U.S. President Donald Trump for attempted election manipulation in Georgia have been put on hold.
According to Tagesschau, allegations against the lead prosecutor have led to this delay, marking a legal victory for Trump, who is currently a presidential candidate.
Appeals Court Freezes Proceedings
A Georgia appeals court has decided to freeze the proceedings against Trump until March of next year.
The decision on whether the lead prosecutor, Fani Willis, can continue the investigation will not be made until then.
As a result, the case will not be heard before the presidential election in early November, which aligns with the goals of Trump's legal team.
The Charges Against Trump
The case revolves around allegations that Trump and 18 other defendants attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump is alleged to have asked Georgia's election official in a phone call to "find" 11,000 votes to secure his victory in the state.
In August last year, Trump and the other defendants were indicted in Georgia on a total of 41 charges.
These charges include conspiracy to commit forgery, conspiracy to make false statements, making false documents, and inciting a violation of an oath of office.
So far, four defendants have pleaded guilty, avoiding potential prison sentences.
Allegations Against the Lead Prosecutor
Lead prosecutor Fani Willis has faced pressure during the proceedings.
Trump's lawyers have accused her of illegally profiting financially through a relationship with another prosecutor.
In March, Judge Scott McAfee ruled that the evidence provided by Trump's legal team was insufficient to prove a conflict of interest on Willis's part.
However, Trump's defense attorneys successfully appealed this decision.
Now, three appeals judges, all appointed by Republicans, will decide by March 2025 whether Willis can continue the investigation.
The first hearing is scheduled for October.
Other Legal Challenges
The case in Georgia is one of four criminal proceedings against Trump.
Delays have also impacted the federal election fraud case and the case concerning the removal of secret government documents in Florida.
A verdict before the upcoming presidential election is practically impossible in these cases as well.
Less than a week ago, Trump was found guilty in a trial for concealing hush money payments to a porn actress. This marked the first time in U.S. history that a former president was convicted of a criminal offense.
