The legal battles surrounding the 2020 U.S. presidential election continue to unfold, with former President Trump at the center of attention. Recently, there have been developments regarding potential charges against Trump related to his attempts to overturn the election results in the state of Georgia. On August 14, 2023, the official website of the Fulton County court briefly displayed a document listing several criminal charges against Trump. The charges appeared to be connected to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. However, the court swiftly removed the document without providing an explanation for its temporary appearance. This unexpected occurrence piqued the interest of media outlets and the public alike.
Here is the document that Reuters saw posted on the court docket that lists a slew of charges against former President Trump.
The document has now been deleted. https://t.co/WSQ4idicAP pic.twitter.com/I2gER6wvvW
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) August 14, 2023
District Attorney Fani Willis’s Investigation
District Attorney Fani Willis has been leading an investigation into whether Donald Trump and his allies engaged in illegal activities to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. The potential charges mentioned in the document posted on the court’s website suggest a range of offenses, such as violating the Georgia RICO Act, solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, and conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree.
Willis has been diligently gathering evidence and testimonies to build a strong case against Trump. Her investigation centers on various incidents, including a phone call on January 2, 2021, during which Trump allegedly asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” 11,780 additional votes in the state. These actions raise serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and have prompted legal scrutiny.
Implications of Potential Charges
If Donald Trump faces charges in Georgia, it would mark his fourth indictment within a span of fewer than five months. Beyond the immediate legal implications, such charges would carry significant historical weight, as he would become the first current or former U.S. President to face criminal indictments in the country’s history. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future accountability of political leaders and their actions.
Cameras in the Courtroom
One notable aspect of the potential trial is the question of whether cameras will be allowed in the courtroom. While federal judges in Washington, D.C., and South Florida have previously ruled against the use of photographic or video equipment in cases related to Trump’s alleged unlawful acts during the 2020 election and mishandling of classified documents, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney expressed a different stance. He stated that if a grand jury presents an indictment, it is typically possible to film and photograph the signing-off process.
It remains to be seen whether this ruling will apply throughout the entire trial or only during the indictment process. Nevertheless, the possibility of televising such a significant event has generated significant public interest, as it would provide transparency and allow the watching world to witness the legal proceedings firsthand.
Update
Following the accidental posting of the docket, President Trump was once again indicted. The Daily Wire reported,
A Fulton County, Georgia, grand jury returned 10 indictments on Monday night in the criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is believed to have pursued charging individuals under Georgia’s RICO Act which allows prosecutors to “string together crimes committed by different people toward one common goal,” Axios reported, which makes it very difficult for defense attorneys to implement a “coherent trial strategy.”
The lengthy prison sentences that come with being convicted of RICO violations are “a major incentive for co-defendants to seek deals in return for new evidence,” the report added.
In the state of Georgia, the governor does not have the ability to pardon convicts, that power rests with a Board of Pardons and Paroles, which “requires that a sentence be completed at least five years prior to applying for a pardon,” the report added. A U.S. president would not be able to pardon Trump in the case.