A court document in Georgia suggested Trump would face RICO charges for election interference, but it was quickly removed.
A court document in Georgia suggested Trump would face RICO charges for election interference, but it was quickly removed.
Trump Faces Potential Criminal Charges in Georgia for Election Interference
Former President Donald Trump could potentially face criminal charges in Georgia under multiple statutes for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, according to a court document briefly posted on the Fulton County Courts website. The document, which was quickly removed, indicated that Trump could be charged under 13 different criminal statutes, with the top charge being racketeering, also known as RICO.
The charges stem from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ ongoing investigation into attempts to overturn Georgia’s election results. The investigation was prompted, in part, by Trump’s request to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes” to close the voting gap between him and now-President Joe Biden in the state.
Willis has been presenting evidence to a grand jury in Atlanta and has spent years gathering information. Last year, she convened a special grand jury that met for eight months and heard testimony from numerous witnesses, including top Georgia officials and Trump aides.
Despite Trump’s attorneys’ efforts to block Willis from using the special grand jury’s report, she appears to be moving forward with potential criminal charges. The document posted on the court website suggested that Trump could be charged with RICO, soliciting public officials to violate their oaths of office, conspiracy, and filing false statements.
Willis has a history of using the RICO statute in her legal career, and legal experts speculate that she could argue that Trump and other officials formed a “corrupt enterprise” to try and maintain his position of power.
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Trump himself has publicly acknowledged the potential charges, stating on Truth Social that he expects to be criminally charged in Atlanta this week. This would mark his fourth criminal case since April.
The current grand jury appears to be moving swiftly, with witnesses’ scheduled testimonies being moved up from Tuesday to Monday. It indicates the severity and pace of the investigation.
Willis’s investigation encompasses not only Trump’s pressure campaign on Raffensperger and other officials but also a state Republican Party plot to submit false documents to Congress, declaring Trump as the winner of Georgia’s electoral college votes.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department’s Special Counsel Jack Smith has already brought criminal charges against Trump in Washington, D.C., for his alleged efforts to subvert the election results. The indictment also covers Trump’s alleged pressure on Georgia officials and his involvement in a conspiracy to convince Congress to declare him the winner through the use of false electors.
While the specific details of the charges remain undisclosed, Willis’s case in Georgia and the Justice Department’s case in Washington, D.C. could potentially present significant legal challenges for the former president. If Trump is charged under RICO and found guilty, the consequences could be substantial.
As the developments surrounding these potential charges continue to unfold, the political and legal implications of Trump’s actions during and after the 2020 election remain at the forefront of public attention. It is a reminder of the ongoing significance and far-reaching consequences of attempts to manipulate electoral processes, and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions.
