An investigation launched by Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis has now expanded to “several other” states, according to a new report from the Washington Post.
An Atlanta-area investigation of alleged election interference by former president Donald Trump and his allies has broadened to include activities in Washington, D.C., and several other states, according to two people with knowledge of the probe — a fresh sign that prosecutors may be building a sprawling case under Georgia’s racketeering laws.
Specifically, Willis is now looking at two companies the 2020 Trump campaign hired to look for voter fraud. When they came back with no proof of fraud, the results were deep sixed.
Since the firms searched for fraud in multiple states, Willis is now gathering evidence in those locations, too, the Post adds.
In recent days, Willis has sought information related to the Trump campaign hiring two firms to find voter fraud across the United States and then burying their findings when they did not find it, allegations that reach beyond Georgia’s borders, said the two individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the investigation. At least one of the firms has been subpoenaed by Fulton County investigators.
Georgia’s RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) statute is among the most inclusive in the country and allows prosecutors to build criminal cases for violations of both state and federal law. It also includes penalties of up to 20 years in state prison for those found guilty under the law.
“Georgia’s RICO statute is basically two specified criminal acts that have to be part of a pattern of behavior done with the same intent or to achieve a common result or that have distinguishing characteristics,” said John Malcolm, a former Atlanta-based federal prosecutor who is now a constitutional scholar at the conservative Heritage Foundation. “That’s it. It’s very broad. That doesn’t mean it’s appropriate to charge a former president, but that also doesn’t mean she can’t do it or won’t do it.”
The Trump campaign spent over $1 million to hire the firms in question. The companies, Simpatico Software Systems and Berkeley Research Group, were unable to find any proof that the disgraced ex-president won the 2020 election. He contested election results in Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The ex-president is also facing legal jeopardy in his home state of New York and from the Justice Department for allegedly taking classified documents from the White House and storing them at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
