Fulton County, Georgia, a grand jury has issued a comprehensive 98-page indictment related to the ongoing criminal probe into alleged attempts by former President Donald Trump and his associates to challenge the 2020 presidential election results. The indictment encompasses 41 counts and names 19 individuals, including notable figures such as Trump himself, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Mark Meadows, and several others.
The charges have been pursued under Georgia’s RICO Act, a statute that permits prosecutors to link crimes committed by various individuals towards a shared objective. This approach can pose challenges for defense teams in crafting a unified trial strategy. Convictions under the RICO Act can lead to extended prison terms, which might prompt some defendants to consider plea deals in exchange for providing new evidence.
Interestingly, in Georgia, the power to pardon does not lie with the governor but with a Board of Pardons and Paroles. Moreover, a convict must wait at least five years after completing their sentence before applying for a pardon. This means that even a U.S. president wouldn’t have the authority to pardon Trump in this case.
The proceedings of the case can be televised, allowing the public to view the evidence presented. In response to the indictment, the Trump campaign issued a statement condemning Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, labeling her as a partisan. The statement accused Willis of deliberately delaying her investigation to impact the 2024 presidential race and described the charges as baseless. The campaign further asserted that Trump was merely exercising his First Amendment rights by questioning the election results, a practice they claim is common among Democrats.
