Ripple effect of Chesebro & Powell's plea deals; GA lawmakers consider how to spend $11B surplus

Photographs of the Lewis R. Slaton Courthouse and Georgia State Capitol, pictured in 2023. (Left: Matthew Pearson/WABE; Right: Nick Nesmith/WABE)

Trump lawyers Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell are no longer fighting the accusations against them in the Georgia election interference case.

By the time jury selection was underway on October 20th, Powell, then Chesebro, accepted plea bargains from Fulton County prosecutors.

Part of their sentence requires Chesebro and Powell to provide truthful testimony in any trial involving Trump and the remaining defendants in the case.

However, WABE Political Reporter Sam Gringlas says, for the public, it’s still a mystery what Chesebro and Powell could say.

“What they’re going to say at trial, if they are called to testify, that is something prosecutors know right now, but we, the public, do not,” Gringlas said on Monday’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott.”

Chesebro’s attorney said no one should get ahead of themselves, adding his client’s plea deal doesn’t necessarily mean that he has flipped on anyone.

The conversation then turned to the upcoming legislative session. Georgia lawmakers are currently working with an $11 billion surplus, in addition to more funds in the state’s rainy-day fund and the lottery fund.

WABE Political Reporter Rahul Bali explained there are several ways the state is considering how to utilize those dollars.

“We do know one thing the governor has already decided to do – the suspension of the gas tax,” said Bali.

But that would still leave billions of dollars. Bali said the governor could also consider another income tax break and a property tax break. Bali also expects Democratic lawmakers to ask why there is such a surplus.