Judge Scott McAfee has ordered the dismissal of two criminal counts in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' RICO case against former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants. The ruling came after the judge determined that Willis did not have the authority to bring charges related to the alleged filing of false documents in federal court, as these matters fall under federal jurisdiction and Willis is not a federal prosecutor.
The remainder of the case, including eight charges against Trump, will proceed.
Thursday's decision marks a significant development in the high-profile case, potentially affecting the overall trajectory of the prosecution against Trump and others involved in the case.
The Hill has more:
The ruling also hands the former president a sizeable victory, as he faced two of the charges in question.
“President Trump and his legal team in Georgia have prevailed once again,” Steve Sadow, Trump's lead defense attorney in the case, said in a statement.
The former president and a slew of his allies are accused of attempting to subvert Georgia's election results to keep Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 presidential election. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution is currently on hold for Trump and many of his co-defendants as they appeal their efforts to kick Willis off the case over her once-romantic relationship with a top prosecutor, who has since stepped aside.
For now, at least, Trump and his 18 co-defendants still face significant legal challenges.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
READ NEXT: Dem Governor Gets Terrible Health Diagnosis