An Orland Park pastor charged with conspiring with others in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia says he is not planning to take a plea deal, but his attorney said that going through a trial would likely be very expensive.

The Rev. Stephen Cliffgard Lee, pastor at Living Word Lutheran Church in Orland Park, was indicted in August in state court in Georgia, along with former President Donald Trump.

He faces felony charges that include racketeering, influencing a witness and conspiracy to solicit false statements and writings. Some defendants have subsequently entered guilty pleas, and attorneys for Lee are trying to get the pastor’s charges tried separately from the rest of the remaining defendants.

At a fundraiser Thursday at Families of Faith Ministries, a Channahon church, Lee was adamant he would not follow the lead of some fellow defendants and attempt to secure a plea deal that could bring a less-severe penalty. He said he is facing a minimum of five years in a Georgia state prison if convicted.

  • mosiacmango
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    1 year ago

    Has he even been offered a plea deal? The above sounds like shitty behavior that both needs to be punished and wouldn’t give the prosecutor anything else to work with against Trump/Giuliani/Eastman.

    Trying to sound tough saying he wont take one when there isn’t one available is just in line with how these shitheads work.

    • PeleSpirit@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I think he’s asking for money for lawyers because he quit his job as pastor, he’s playing the victim.