Sidney Powell, a former lawyer to ex-President Trump, pleaded guilty on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in her RICO case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
As a first-time offender, Powell was sentenced to six years probation and must pay a fine of $2,700. She will also have to write a letter of apology to the residents of Georgia.
Powell is one of 19 co-defendants in the Trump election case being tried in Fulton County. The plea comes one day before the jury selection was set to begin.
On that day, co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to lesser charges in exchange for cooperating with prosecutors, which is another big blow to Trump.
What Was Sidney Powell Charged With?
Powell was charged with counts of conspiracy to commit election fraud along with conspiracy to commit computer theft. She was also facing conspiracy to commit computer trespass and conspiracy to commit computer invasion of privacy.
Those were all counts related to have participated in an alleged conspiracy to subvert the presidential election, which Trump and other top Republicans claim was “rigged.”
What Did Sidney Powell Plead Guilty To?
Powell pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors that will allow her to avoid jail time and pay fines. She did not plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy, which was the biggest charge.
Notably, Powell has agreed to testify against some of the other co-defendants, which is startling news to Trump and a significant legal development.
Powell, along with Trump crony Rudolph Giuliani, went around the country and filed lawsuits in a bid to stop electors in several jurisdictions. All of those efforts were found to have been unsubstantiated.
Willis is the first prosecutor to bring charges against Trump related to the 2020 election, but she won’t be the last. New York’s Attorney General has also gearing up to indict the former president.
Since announcing the indictments in August, Willis has been the target of racist threats and verbal attacks.
In early September, Willis wrote a scathing letter to Ohio Congress Jim Jordan, a Republican that has attempted to derail her investigation.
