Donald Trump’s confidante and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has denied charges he faces in Georgia.
Giuliani is charged with 13 crimes relating to attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 US election that saw Trump lose to Joe Biden. But along with six other co-defendants Giuliani has officially lodged not guilty pleas, reports the BBC.
It means they, along with Trump and several others, will not appear in court in person next week. All 19 co-defendants have now been allowed to go free after paying their bail bond.
On Thursday it was announced the trial would be streamed live on YouTube. And while a date has not yet been confirmed, it could be next year, when Trump could be fighting the next election.
A hearing on Wednesday will take place to enter official pleas. Ahead of the arraignment hearing, Trump and the other co-defendants travelled to Atlanta last week to book themselves in at Fulton County Jail and have mugshots taken.
The 19 defendants in the case – including Trump – have been charged with violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act, known as the Rico act.
Across the United States, and at federal level, Rico laws help prosecutors connect people who break the law and those who command them organising crime. All of the defendants deny doing anything wrong.
After travelling and surrendering to the authorities in Georgia last week, Giuliani stood outside Fulton County Jail and labelled the prosecution a “travesty”. He said: “I am very, very honoured to be involved in this case, because this case is a fight for our way of life.”
Other suspects who have entered not guilty pleas include Ken Chesebro; the alleged architect of the fake electors scheme who has petitioned the court for a speedy trial; and lawyers Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis.
