Tag: Georgia

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Crime Donald Trump Elections

Joyce Vance: Indictments In Georgia Election Investigation Could Come As Soon As This Week 

Former Alabama U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance says indictments connected to the Georgia investigation of possible 2020 election crimes allegedly committed by former president Donald Trump and some of his top allies may be issued as soon as this week.

The country, Vance writes on Substack, is “officially on Georgia-watch,” adding, “It’s entirely possible that this could be the week to expect the world to turn upside down.”

What should we expect if indeed the indictments are unsealed this week?

“The first signal we’ll probably get—you’ll be in a crowded restaurant, or at work, or on a train, or in the gym, and suddenly everyone’s phone will start blowing up all at once. Reporters tend to stalk the clerk of court’s office in person and online when they know a big case is close. We’re in that sweet spot, although it’s important to keep in mind that we could remain there for awhile.”

Vance also explains that indictment of Trump isn’t a given:

“It’s not certain that anyone, let alone Donald Trump, will be indicted. But Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, certainly seems to be giving off all the signals that she means business here.”

However, if Trump is indicted, here are the possible charges that will be brought against him, according to Vance:

“First up, election-related crimes: solicitation to commit election fraud, intentional interference with performance of election duties, interference with primaries and elections, and conspiracy to commit election fraud.”

But the worst possibility for the failed ex-president involves conspiracy charges.

“Georgia’s state RICO statute could also be charged: RICO stands for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and originally referred to a federal law passed in 1970 to strengthen the tools and charges available to federal prosecutors for dealing with the unlawful activities of those engaged in organized crime—Mafia or other entities devoted to organized, ongoing, serious criminal conduct.”

This could be a week of historical importance. Let’s hope it does indeed bring up indictments of Trump and his co-conspirators.

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Crime Donald Trump Elections

Georgia Grand Jury Recommends Multiple Indictments In 2020 Election Fraud Case

A special grand jury impaneled in Fulton County, Georgia is recommending multiple indictments for crimes connected to the 2020 election that former president Donald Trump and his allies tried to have overturned.

The New York Times spoke with Emily Kohrs, who served as forewoman of the grand jury. While she refused to give the names of those suggested for criminal indictment because the full report remains under seal.

However, when Kohrs was asked if Trump was among those named, she responded:

“You’re not going to be shocked. It’s not rocket science.”

The Times also reports:

“The investigation in Atlanta has been seen as one of the most significant legal threats to Mr. Trump as he begins another run for the presidency. In November, the Justice Department named a special counsel, Jack Smith, to oversee two Trump-related criminal investigations. And last month, the Manhattan district attorney’s office began presenting evidence to a grand jury on whether Mr. Trump paid hush money to a porn star during his 2016 presidential campaign, laying the groundwork for potential criminal charges against the former president in the coming months.”

Kohrs also revealed that the grand jury made one of their main focuses the call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which he urged the election supervisor to “find” nearly 12,000 additional ballots that would allow the disgraced ex-president to declare victory in the Peach State.

And Kohrs added:

“I will tell you that if the judge releases the recommendations, it is not going to be some giant plot twist. You probably have a fair idea of what may be on there. I’m trying very hard to say that delicately.”

Another grand jury will have to formally indict anyone recommended by the special grand jury, which served as an investigative body to gather evidence and made suggestions to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

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Crime Donald Trump Elections

Indictment Of Trump In Georgia For 2020 Election Crimes A Done Deal: Legal Experts

Portions of a report from a special grand jury in the state of Georgia are the strongest evidence yet that failed one-term former president Donald Trump will be indicted for crimes connected to the 2020 presidential election, according to several legal experts.

The nine-page report contains the following findings:

  • There was absolutely no election fraud in the Peach State
  • At least one witness who testified should be indicted for perjury

“We find by a unanimous vote that no widespread fraud took place in the Georgia 2020 presidential election that could result in overturning that election,” the report reads.

The grand jury report — some of which remains redacted — is very bad news for the disgraced ex-president, attorney Norm Eisen noted.

“The GA special grand jury excerpts are starting to emerge & they are very bad for Trump. ‘We find by unanimous vote that no widespread fraud took place in the Georgia 2020 presidential election.’ If that’s true, then Trump likely committed crimes.

“The GA special grand jury has spoken–that means Trump committed crimes He’s gonna get indicted.”

Former federal prosecutor Harry Litman concurred with Eisen

“Basically, we sat, we discussed, we voted on charges. And yes, some people committed perjury, and we agreed that there was no fraud in the election.”

Attorney Allison Gill wrote:

 “They recommend indictments for the unnamed people who lied under oath.”

A new grand jury with the power to indict will begin next month in Georgia. It should be interesting to see whose names wind up on any indictments, especially since both Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani both testified and may have committed perjury.

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Crime Donald Trump Elections

Georgia Grand Jury Report On 2020 Election: ‘Some Witnesses May Have Lied Under Oath’

Portions of a report from a special Georgia grand jury will be released on Thursday, a judge ruled this morning, including the belief that some of the witnesses who appeared before the panel “may have lied under oath.

The Washington Post reports that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said in an order released Monday that “he will make public three sections of the grand jury report, including the panel’s introduction and conclusion to its findings as well as a section in which the grand jury “discusses its concern that some witnesses may have lied under oath during their testimony.”

McBurney ruled that parts of the report should be made public, including the panel’s concerns that witnesses may have lied under oath — witnesses that he said the grand jury did not identify. “While publication may not be convenient for the pacing of the district attorney’s investigation, the compelling public interest in these proceedings and the unquestionable value and importance of transparency require their release,” McBurney wrote.

Who might the witnesses that lied be? While we can’t yet know, this much is known: The names of those who appeared before the grand jury. Among them are Rudy Giuliani, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC). If it can be proven that they or any of the other witnesses lied under oath, they could be charged with perjury, which carries a penalty of one to ten years in prison.

Based on the recommendations from the special grand jury, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can then present evidence to a separate grand jury and seek a criminal indictment.

Failed one-term former president Donald Trump was tape recorded urging Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” nearly 12,000 votes and declare him the winner in the Peach State’s 2020 balloting. Graham also reportedly sought to influence Raffensperger into naming Trump the victor in Georgia. Instead, the state’s 16 electoral votes went to President Joe Biden, who carried Georgia by a final popular vote tally of 2,473,633 to 2,461,854.

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Crime Donald Trump Elections

Here Are The 6 Crimes Trump Could Be Indicted For In The ‘Imminent’ Georgia Election Fraud Case: Report

There’s a very real chance that we will know as soon as this week exactly who Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis plans to charge with crimes connected to efforts meant to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the Peach State.

Among those facing charges: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) along with his one-time BFF, disgraced former president Donald Trump.

But if Trump is indeed indicted and put on trial, what crimes might he be accused of having committed?

Aaron Blake of the Washington Post has looked carefully at the case and some of the hints that have begun to leak out from Georgia and suggests that Trump is facing six charges.

Solicitation to commit election fraud

This involves inducing someone else to commit a crime involving an election. There are felony and misdemeanor versions.

Georgia law makes it a crime “when, with intent that another person engage in conduct constituting a [felony/misdemeanor] under this article, he or she solicits, requests, commands, importunes, or otherwise attempts to cause the other person to engage in such conduct.”

Conspiracy to commit election fraud

This is similar to solicitation, but it involves working with others to commit the fraud. That would include Graham, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, and former chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Intentional interference with performance of election duties

This charge involves, according to Georgia law interfering, hindering, or delaying the results of an election.

Interference with primaries and elections/filing false documents

This would include the “fake electors” list floated by Trump and others connected to him.

(Some legal experts have suggested that the certificate the fake electors submitted to Congress wasitself illegal, because on it, they falsely claimed to be “duly elected.”)

False statements

In other words, lying, as the law states “a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation … in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of state government.”

Racketeering

This is the most serious of the potential charges and carries enhanced penalties.

Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (or RICO) Act is broader than its federal counterpart. It requires proving two predicate crimes and establishing a pattern of racketeering activity, but it doesn’t require those crimes to be indicted separately. And while such laws are most commonly linked to organized crime, it has been used against public officials.

All of the charges are serious, but the racketeering one is the most treacherous for Trump because it would allow the presentation of evidence that might not otherwise be included in the more narrowly-drawn charges.