Oral Arguments Wednesday for Motion to Dismiss Cop City RICO Cases Based on Violations of Attorney-Client Privilege

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2024

Oral Arguments Wednesday for Motion to Dismiss Cop City RICO Cases Based on Violations of Attorney-Client Privilege by Attorney General and Police Investigators

Atlanta Solidarity Fund Organizers Also Seek to Disqualify Georgia Attorney General and Homeland Security Unit of Atlanta Police Department From Pending RICO Cases

ATLANTA, GA – Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Adams will hear oral arguments on Wednesday for a motion to dismiss filed last month by three Atlanta Solidarity Fund (ASF) organizers indicted on RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) charges. In addition to seeking a dismissal of their charges, ASF organizers seek to “disqualify the Attorney General’s Office from any further prosecution of this case and to disqualify the Atlanta Police/Homeland Security Unit from any further participation in this case,” according to the motion.

What: Hearing on Motion to Dismiss RICO Charges against ASF 3
When: Wednesday, July 31, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Fulton County Superior Court, Courtroom 4E, 136 Pryor St. SW, Atlanta

The motion accuses Georgia Deputy Attorney General John Fowler’s prosecutorial team of extensively violating multiple defendants’ constitutional right to attorney-client confidentiality. Despite assuring defendants and their attorneys that measures would be put in place to prevent improper disclosure, the Attorney General’s Office shared privileged information with Atlanta Police Department (APD) investigators and each defense team for the 61 RICO defendants.

The ASF organizers and their attorneys are not alone in voicing outrage at brazen violations of attorney client privilege in Georgia. Earlier this year, RICO codefendant Victor Puertas filed a motion to dismiss after the Attorney General’s office recorded, transcribed, labeled as “legal calls,” and then disseminated calls between Mr. Puertas and his attorney at the time. Another ongoing case, State v. Burns, is awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court of Georgia on the proper remedy for when the State knowingly reviews and engages with calls between incarcerated clients and their attorneys.

Over 100 people have been arrested in efforts to criminalize ongoing protests against the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, commonly known as “Cop City.” More than 40 of the activists indicted for RICO were also arrested under Georgia’s Domestic Terrorism law. Construction of the facility is ongoing while the city stalls efforts to let Atlanta voters decide on its fate through an ongoing legal appeal. The city has also reimposed historical discriminatory qualification measures like signature matching to proactively inhibit the referendum process.

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For more information on the sweeping criminal case and ways to support the defendants and the movement to Stop Cop City, go to: weelauneethefree.org.