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Grand Jury Indicts Trump and 18 co-defendants on charges of racketeering in Georgia 2020 election probe

  • Trump Criminally Indicted For Fourth Time for Interference with 2020 Election
  • A Grand Jury has indicted Trump and 18 co-defendants for knowingly participated in a conspiracy to unlawfully manipulate the election outcome in Trump's favor.
  • Does The First Amendment Protect Donald Trump Against The Federal Election Charges He’s Facing?

Donald Trump, along with several prominent allies including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and Jeffrey Clark, has been indicted on 41 counts in Georgia. The charges stem from their efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. 

 

The grand jury’s indictment argues that Trump and his co-defendants knowingly participated in a conspiracy to unlawfully manipulate the election outcome in Trump's favor. The charges indicate that these individuals were unwilling to accept Trump's loss and actively sought to alter the results of the election.

 

"Trump and the other defendants charged in this indictment refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump," the indictment says.

 

This indictment, which also involves lawyers John Eastman, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, and Ray Smith, accuses them of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) act.

 

Trump was personally charged with 13 counts, including violating the state's racketeering act, soliciting a public officer to violate their oath, conspiring to impersonate a public officer, conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree and conspiring to file false documents.

The racketeering charge carries a sentence of five to 20 years, while a conspiracy conviction can result in a minimum sentence of one year in prison with a variable maximum sentence.

 

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis announced arrest warrants have been issued for all 19 defendants. The individuals have been given until August 25 to voluntarily surrender. 

 

Willis expressed her intention to try all 19 defendants together.

What Does This Mean for Trump?

The indictment points to various incidents, including a notable January 2, 2021 phone call in which Trump urged Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" enough votes for him to surpass Joe Biden's lead and win the state. Additionally, the indictment focuses on the involvement of fake electors who falsely claimed Trump's victory in Georgia. Several of these individuals have already entered immunity agreements.

Evidence in the Indictment

The document provides a chronological account of the plot, outlining the steps taken by Trump and the alleged co-conspirators to overturn the election outcome in Georgia. The indictment also refers to unindicted co-conspirators, numbering at least 19 individuals. This suggests a broader network involved in the alleged activities.

 

The indictment comes after a special grand jury convened by Willis heard from 75 witnesses and considered evidence related to the case. The panel notably heard testimonies from Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Governor Brian Kemp, both Republicans, who had faced pressure from Trump and his allies to alter the election results.

Background on Fulton Investigation

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