Who is Ray Smith? Former lawyer for Donald Trump's campaign and first of 19 Fulton County defendants pleads 'not guilty'
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Ray Stallings Smith III, a former lawyer for the Trump campaign, has become the first of 19 defendants to plead "not guilty" to the election meddling charges brought against him in Fulton County, Georgia, CBS News reports.
On Monday, August 28, an attorney for Smith filed a waiver of arraignment and entered a "not guilty" plea to each of the 12 counts in District Attorney Fani Willis' racketeering case against former President Trump. The billionaire businessman and his 18 co-defendants are accused of violating Georgia's racketeering law in an alleged plot to overturn President Biden's victory in the state following the 2020 election.
Ray Stallings Smith III, Atlanta attorney, 12 felony counts, bond $50K. You'd think he'd make a bit of an effort to avoid looking like deranged career criminal in his mug shot, wouldn't you? pic.twitter.com/pQAsXlBNg3
— atthebeach345 🌻🖤 (@thebeach345) August 23, 2023
What did the document state?
"It is counsel's understanding that by filing this waiver of arraignment, prior to the arraignment date, that Mr. Smith and the undersigned counsel are excused from appearing at the arraignment calendar on September 6, 2023," the document states.
Smith and his attorney, by waiving his arraignment, will not be required to appear in court next week when the other defendants are expected to enter their pleas.
What are the charges Trump and others are facing?
Other charges Trump and the defendants are facing include Solicitation of Violation of Oath by a Public Officer; Conspiracy to Commit Impersonating a Public Officer; Conspiracy to Commit Forgery in the First Degree; Conspiracy to Commit False Statements and Writings; Conspiracy to Commit Filing False Documents; Conspiracy to Commit Forgery in the First Degree; Filing False Documents; and Solicitation of Violation of Oath by a Public Officer.
President Trump’s mug shot.
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) August 25, 2023
Can’t wait to get my President Trump mug shot t-shirt and coffee mugs.
This only makes me support him more than I already do. I will fight for President Trump any day and everyday.
DONALD TRUMP IS AN AMERICAN HERO!! #Trump2024… pic.twitter.com/yP4nFg7sO7
The 97-page indictment has 12 counts against Smith, accused of illegally asking state lawmakers to appoint a different set of electors from Georgia who would cast their votes for Trump in the Electoral College.
Smith argued it was 'impossible' to certify Biden's victory
Smith participated in state legislative hearings in 2020 on behalf of the Trump campaign, claiming it was 'impossible' to certify Biden's victory.
"Because of irregularities and abject failure of the secretary of state of this state and the counties to properly conduct of the election it is impossible — impossible — to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election," Smith told the Georgia State Senate Judiciary Subcommittee at the time.
He argued that Georgia's election was "flawed" and alleged state lawmakers held the power to choose presidential electors due to gross "irregularities" in a presidential election.
What other charges does Smith face?
Smith presented the Trump campaign's case that the Georgia election code was not maintained in 2020 to lawmakers. He now faces three counts of soliciting a public officer to violate their oath and two counts of making false statements at the hearings.
Smith also faces six counts in connection to an alleged scheme to submit a false slate of electors, including forgery, two false statement charges, and several conspiracy counts.