Georgia Judge Dismisses Two Criminal Charges Against Trump in 2020 Election Case – Key Ruling Explained

A Georgia judge has dismissed two criminal charges against Donald Trump in the state's 2020 election interference case, according to court filings on Thursday. In addition to Trump, one count was dismissed for other allies involved in the case. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee ruled that state prosecutors did not have the jurisdiction to file charges connected to the alleged submission of false documents in federal court. 

Despite this, McAfee allowed the broader case to proceed, including eight remaining charges against Trump. The former president, along with 14 co-defendants, has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering and other crimes, which prosecutors claim were part of a plan to overturn Trump's narrow defeat in Georgia during the 2020 election. 

The case has been delayed since June, pending a Georgia appeals court's review of whether lead prosecutor, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, should be disqualified due to alleged misconduct, involving a reported romantic relationship with a former senior deputy. Arguments in the appeals court are scheduled for December, leaving the case in limbo until after the November 5 presidential election, where Trump faces Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. 

The ruling also coincides with a separate federal case concerning Trump's national efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. Progress in that case has been significantly slowed by a U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution. 

Thursday’s decision is tied to claims that Trump and his associates put together a fraudulent slate of presidential electors and filed a civil lawsuit challenging the election results based on false claims. The ruling means five of the original 13 charges in the indictment filed last year have been dismissed. In March, McAfee had already dropped six other charges, including three against Trump. 

Trump's attorney, Steve Sadow, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that Trump's legal team "has prevailed once again." Meanwhile, a spokesperson for District Attorney Fani Willis’ office has not yet provided a comment. In a separate ruling, Judge McAfee upheld the racketeering charge, which applies to all defendants in the case.