Rudy Giuliani, former lawyer for Donald Trump, has announced his intention to waive arraignment and enter a not guilty plea in the case filed against him in Fulton County, Georgia. This follows similar actions taken by Trump and several other defendants in the case.
According to Giuliani’s spokesperson and political advisor, Ted Goodman, the former lawyer plans to waive the arraignment. This means that he will not have to appear in court for the initial hearing and will instead enter his plea through his attorney.
Giuliani is facing 13 charges related to a racketeering case, where he is accused of spearheading efforts to overturn Georgia’s vote following President Joe Biden’s victory. A total of 19 people are accused of acting as a “criminal enterprise” in these efforts.
On August 23, Giuliani surrendered to the Fulton County authorities and was booked and fingerprinted. He was later released on $150,000 bond.
Giuliani’s attorney, based in Atlanta, explained that it is common for defendants to waive arraignment if given the opportunity to do so. In Georgia, appearing at arraignment is optional for defendants.
This is not the only legal trouble Giuliani is facing, as he was also charged in a federal case in early August. The case alleges that Trump and six unindicted co-conspirators interfered with the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election. One of Giuliani’s attorneys, Robert Costello, stated that Giuliani “appeared” to be one of those unnamed alleged co-conspirators.
Both Trump and Giuliani have entered not guilty pleas in their respective cases and have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
As this case unfolds, the legal battles surrounding Trump and his associates continue to generate attention. The outcome of these legal proceedings will have significant implications for all parties involved.