Fourth Criminal Case Involving Donald J. Trump Expected to Reach Grand Jury Next Week
The fourth criminal case involving former President Donald J. Trump is set to reach a crucial stage next week, as the district attorney in Atlanta prepares to present findings from the election interference investigation to a grand jury. This investigation in Georgia is considered to be the most extensive legal challenge yet to the efforts made by Trump and his advisers to retain power after losing the 2020 election.
It has been revealed that nearly 20 individuals have been notified that they could face charges as a result of this two and a half year investigation conducted by Fani T. Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia. Indictments from a grand jury are anticipated to be sought by Ms. Willis in the first half of August. In preparation for potential security concerns, her office has planned for most staff members to work remotely during the first three weeks of the month, and security barriers have been installed outside the downtown Atlanta courthouse.
Although the case was initially expected to reach the grand jury this week, two witnesses who received subpoenas recently confirmed that they had not yet received instructions to testify within the next 48 hours. This indicates that the case will likely be presented to the jury in the coming week.
Earlier this month, Trump was indicted in a federal case related to election interference, and the ongoing Georgia investigation has overlapping elements with this federal case. Several of Trump’s aides and advisers who were involved in his 2020 election campaign are expected to face charges in the Georgia inquiry.
Unlike in federal cases where a president can potentially pardon himself if re-elected, such powers do not extend to state matters. Furthermore, in Georgia, pardons are only possible five years after the completion of a sentence and require the approval of a state panel.
Trump’s legal team has predicted an indictment in Georgia as a “foregone conclusion” in recent legal filings. The forewoman of a special grand jury that heard evidence for several months last year also strongly hinted that the group had recommended Trump for indictment.
Two grand juries are currently hearing cases at the Fulton County Courthouse, and a minimum of twelve out of twenty-three jury members need to agree on probable cause for criminal charges. Ms. Willis has expressed confidence in her office’s work and readiness to proceed with the case after more than two years of investigation.
The investigation focuses on five incidents following the 2020 election, including Trump’s calls pressuring local officials and his involvement in creating a slate of bogus electors for himself in Georgia. The inquiry also examines harassment of election workers, as well as false claims of ballot fraud made by Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, and other allies during legislative hearings. The investigation has even expanded to include incidents in rural Coffee County where Trump allies breached the election system in January 2021.
The use of Georgia’s version of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) allows Ms. Willis to explore and charge a range of criminal activities related to a larger scheme. The special grand jury’s findings have indicated that more than a dozen individuals could face indictments, including Giuliani and other lawyers who worked on Trump’s behalf. Mark Meadows, former White House chief of staff, and Jeffrey Clark, a former high-ranking official at the Justice Department, have also been involved in the investigation.
While Trump’s lawyers have attempted to challenge the Atlanta inquiry through various legal motions, Georgia judges have thus far rejected these attempts. The presiding Fulton Superior Court judge and the Georgia Supreme Court have both ruled against the Trump team in recent weeks.
Two witnesses, journalist George Chidi and former state senator Jen Jordan, who have been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury, have not received their 48-hour notices for this week, suggesting that the case will proceed next week.
This year has been marked by a series of legal challenges for Donald J. Trump. In April, he was indicted in a state court in Manhattan on 34 felony counts related to an alleged hush-money scheme. In June, he faced federal criminal charges in Miami regarding the handling of classified documents and allegations of obstruction of efforts to recover them after leaving office.