Sidney Powell, a former lawyer for ex-President Donald Trump, has pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to interfere with the 2020 election in Georgia. She is the second co-defendant to reach a plea deal with prosecutors, after former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale.
Powell faces probation and cooperation
Powell entered her guilty plea on Thursday, just days before jury selection for her trial was scheduled to begin. As part of the plea agreement, she will have to pay a $6,000 fine, $2,700 in restitution to the state of Georgia, write an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia, testify at the trial of the remaining defendants, and serve six years of probation. She will also be barred from communicating with her co-defendants, witnesses, and the media until the case is over.
Powell was a key figure in Trump’s election fraud claims
Powell was one of the most prominent lawyers who represented Trump and his allies in their attempts to overturn the election results in several states, including Georgia. She filed multiple lawsuits alleging widespread voter fraud and irregularities, but none of them succeeded in court. She also made baseless claims that voting machines were rigged by foreign actors, such as Venezuela and China, to switch votes from Trump to Joe Biden.
Powell’s legal actions drew the ire of Georgia officials, who accused her of spreading false and misleading information that undermined public confidence in the election. In February 2021, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis announced a criminal investigation into Trump and his associates for their alleged attempts to influence the administration of the election in Georgia. Powell was among the 10 individuals named as subjects of the probe.
Powell faces other legal troubles
Powell’s guilty plea in Georgia does not end her legal woes. She is also facing a defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems, the company that makes the voting machines that she falsely accused of being manipulated. Dominion is seeking $1.3 billion in damages from Powell for harming its reputation and business. Powell has argued that her statements were protected by the First Amendment and that no reasonable person would believe them as fact.
Powell is also facing disciplinary action from several state bars for her conduct as a lawyer. The State Bar of Texas has filed a complaint against her for violating its rules of professional conduct. The State Bar of Michigan has also initiated an investigation into her license status. Powell could face sanctions ranging from reprimand to disbarment if found guilty of misconduct.