ATLANTA: Prosecutors in the state of Georgia have started the presentation of evidence to a grand jury in an investigation into former President Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The case, expected to be a sprawling, multi-defendant indictment, could potentially lead to the first televised trial of a former US president and features charges typically associated with organized crime cases.
This would mark the fourth legal case against Trump this year, with the indictment possibly encompassing charges related to his actions in Georgia during the election aftermath. Trump has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, frequently posting messages on his Truth Social platform dismissing the investigation as “ridiculous.”
Charges Against Trump in Election Case
Among the incidents likely to be cited in the charges is a controversial phone call in which Trump urged Georgia officials to “find” enough votes to reverse his election defeat to President Joe Biden. Analysts also anticipate charges related to the alleged scheme to submit fraudulent certification of a Trump victory to Congress, as well as false testimony provided by Trump’s aides regarding election fraud.
The investigation has the potential to encompass additional matters, including alleged harassment of poll workers and the unauthorized access of sensitive election data, which occurred around the same time as the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Prosecutor Fani Willis, based in Atlanta, is expected to consolidate the allegations against Trump and potential co-conspirators under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law. While racketeering statutes are typically used to target organized crime, Georgia’s broader law allows for the combination of offenses committed by various individuals towards a common goal, whether criminal or not.
