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Ahem, *Someone* Leaked Footage In Georgia Election Case, Now Fani Willis REALLY Wants A Protective Order

Willis says the release of proffer interviews obstructs the administration of justice.

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Fulton County GA District Attorney Fani Willis

Fani Willis (Photo by David Walter Banks/Getty Images)

Thus far, four of the 19 defendants in the Georgia election interference case have pleaded guilty to charges as part of a plea agreement. Now the proffer sessions conducted as part of the plea of attorneys Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro, and Sidney Powell, as well as Georgia bail bondsman Scott Hall have been leaked to the press.

The details in the videos don’t make the remaining co-defendants — namely former president Donald Trump — look great. But that’s not surprising, and frankly WHY THEY WERE OFFERED DEALS. Specifically, Ellis detailed Trump’s unwillingness to leave office despite, you know, losing; Chesebro discussed explaining the fake elector scheme to Trump; Powell talked about her plot to seize voting machines; and Hall revealed more about the harassment of Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman.

As a result, District Attorney Fani Willis has re-upped her request for a protective order in the case:

“The release of these confidential video recordings is clearly intended to intimidate witnesses in this case, subjecting them to harassment and threats prior to trial, constitutes indirect communication about the facts of this case with codefendants and witnesses, and obstructs the administration of justice, in violation of the conditions of release imposed on each defendant.”

Willis initially requested a protective order, which would bar all parties from disclosing any discovery materials September. But, the court “has neither ordered a hearing on the State’s motion nor entered the requested order.” This latest development has at least got that ball moving — Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has scheduled an emergency hearing on the matter.

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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.

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