Kenneth Chesebro, a lawyer who proposed a plan to submit slates of electors for Donald Trump in closely-contested states won by Joe Biden, has pleaded guilty in the Georgia election interference case.
Chesebro, Trump and 17 others were charged in a sprawling racketeering case for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 election result.
Chesebro pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit filing false documents. He will be ordered to serve five years probation, pay $5,000 in restitution, complete 100 hours of community service, write a letter of apology to citizens of Georgia and testify truthfully at trial.
Chesebro agreed to a plea deal just as his trial was about to get underway. As Chesebro appeared in Judge Scott McAfee’s courtroom, 450 potential jurors gathered upstairs to report for duty.
The plea comes the day after co-defendant Sidney Powell pleaded guilty in connection with directing the breach of sensitive voting equipment in Coffee County, Ga.
Prosecutors had initially charged Chesebro with seven felony counts, including conspiracy to impersonate a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, conspiracy to commit false statements and writings and conspiracy to commit filing false documents.
In one email referenced in the indictment, Chesebro wrote that “the purpose of having the electoral votes sent in to Congress is to provide the opportunity to debate the election irregularities in Congress, and to keep alive the possibility that the votes could be flipped to Trump.”
Until now, Chesebro’s lawyers argued that his actions were consistent with federal election law because the Electoral Count Act discusses Congress receiving multiple slates of electors.
Chesebro and Powell were set to go to trial before the others because they were the only defendants to demand a speedy trial under Georgia law.
Another defendant, bail bondsman Scott Hall, pleaded guilty last month.
Judge McAfee has yet to set a trial date for the remaining defendants, including Trump.
This is a developing story.
