Orland Pastor In Trump GA Case Seeks Separation From Co-Defendants

FULTON COUNTY, GA — An Orland Park pastor who was the last to surrender last month in connection with racketeering charges in Georgia is seeking to have his case separated from all but two of his 18 co-defendants, according to reports.

Representation for Rev. Stephen Cliffgard Lee, who serves as a pastor at Living Word Lutheran Church in Orland Park, has sought to detach Lee's case from that of former President Donald J. Trump and the other 17 named in the indictment, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The request is similar to that of two other defendants—Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro—who sought speedy trials and also asked that their cases be separated from the rest. Their trials are scheduled to begin Oct. 23, the Tribune reports.

Lee's lawyer David Shestokas in his request said that by not separating his client's case from the rest, saying jurors would be prejudiced against Lee if he remains linked to them, as reported by the Tribune.

Lee was among the associates and supporters of Trump to be charged in a sweeping racketeering indictment in August. The group, which includes Trump, is accused of trying to interfere with the 2020 presidential election.

Trump was charged on suspicion of violation of the Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations Act, three counts of solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, two counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit forgery, two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, conspiracy to commit filing false documents, filing false documents and false statements and writings.

According to the 98-page indictment, Lee conspired with Chicago publicist Trevian Kutti, Harrison Floyd, a former mixed martial arts fighter who led the group Black Voices for Trump, and Scott Hall, a bail bondsman in the Atlanta area in connection with alleged efforts to pressure a Georgia election worker to lie about election fraud, Patch reported.

Lee is charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit influencing witnesses, conspiracy to commit solicitation of false statements and writings, influencing witnesses, and violation of the Georgia RICO Act, according to Fulton County Jail records.

Lee's attorney seeks to have his case remain linked to Kutti and Floyd, the Tribune reports.