Trump and 18 others are accused in the Georgia election investigation.
Former US President Donald Trump has been accused of trying to rig the Georgia election in order to reverse his loss there in 2020.
This is his fourth criminal prosecution in as many months.
Along with 18 other allies, Mr. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, was charged.
All 13 of the allegations against him, which include interfering in elections and racketeering, are denied. They are politically motivated, according to him.
In February 2021, Georgia’s Fani Willis initially opened an inquiry into claims that Mr. Trump and his allies had interfered with elections.
Prosecutors filed a 98-page Indictment against the 19 defendants, which was made public late on Monday.
Defendants had until Friday, August 25, noon to voluntarily surrender, according to Ms. Willis’ announcement. She stated that all 19 defendants would be tried concurrently.
Former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, former White House top of staff Mark Meadows, and former White House attorney John Eastman are on the list of alleged co-conspirators.
Others include Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis, two Trump attorneys who emphasized unsubstantiated accusations of massive election fraud, as well as Jeffrey Clark, a former justice department employee.
The defendants “knowingly and willfully participated in a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump,” according to the indictment.
The former president is charged with several felonies, including
committing a racketeering offense in Georgia
Public official soliciting oath-violation
a plot to pose as a public official
First-degree conspiracy to commit forgeries
False writing, drafting false declarations, and filing fraudulent paperwork
The indictment refers to the defendants as a “criminal organization” and charges them with witness perjury, computer trespass, theft, and witness persuasion, among other offenses.
Violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act), the most serious accusation, carries a potential 20-year jail sentence.
The Trump campaign said in a statement that the district attorney was a “rabid partisan” who had brought “these bogus indictments” in an effort to sway the 2024 presidential election and “damage the dominant Trump campaign”.
The statement read, “This latest coordinated attack by a biased prosecutor in a predominately Democratic jurisdiction not only betrays the trust of the American people, but also exposes the true motivation driving their manufactured accusations.”
He is the only former US president ever to be charged with a crime.
Before the grand jury voted to return an indictment, a list of criminal charges against Mr. Trump posted on a Fulton County website earlier on Monday, causing uncertainty.
According to the document, Donald Trump was accused of racketeering, conspiring to commit fraud, and making false statements.
The document was described as “fictitious” by a Ms. Willis representative, who did not, however, explain how it wound up on the court’s website.
The apparent clerical error was used by Mr. Trump and his friends as evidence that the system was biased.
Federal prosecutors in Washington, DC, charged Mr. Trump earlier this month with plotting to rig the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat President Joe Biden.
The operations of the Trump campaign in Georgia received a good deal of attention in that charge sheet. In that instance, Mr. Trump entered a not guilty plea.
Georgia is the center of Ms. Willis’ inquiry, a crucial state in the race for the US presidency that Mr. Trump just missed winning.
On a discussion with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in January 2021, Mr. Trump was overheard pleading with him to “find” the 11,780 votes he would have needed to defeat Mr. Biden in that state.
An alleged plan to tamper with voting equipment in one Georgia county and steal data is described in the indictment.
It also refers to an alleged plan to submit erroneous lists of electors, the people who decide who becomes president and vice president through the Electoral College.
On March 25 of the following year, Mr. Trump would also stand trial in New York for paying hush money to a pornstar. Additionally, he is scheduled to stand trial in Florida on May 20 for alleged crimes involving the handling of secret documents discovered at his Mar-a-Lago home following his election.
What other legal issues does Donald Trump have?
Donald Trump has previously been accused of criminal offenses and is currently embroiled in three judicial proceedings involving a variety of claims, including:
investigative 2020 election
In a separate federal investigation investigating attempts to rig the results of the 2020 presidential election, Trump has been charged criminally.
They result from the former president’s conduct following the 2020 presidential election, particularly in the wake of the Capitol riot on January 6, which happened as Congress was convening to confirm President Joe Biden’s victory.
Case of the classified documents
In addition, he is being prosecuted on 40 criminal counts for allegedly mishandling sensitive information after leaving the White House.
Thousands of documents, including roughly 100 that were classified, were confiscated during an FBI raid of his Florida residence Mar-a-Lago last year.
The accusations concern both how he handled the records and his alleged efforts to thwart the FBI’s efforts to obtain them.
Hush money case in New York
April saw the filing of Trump’s first criminal indictment, which included 34 felony counts of first-degree business record falsification.
The allegations center on a hush-money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election; Daniels claims to have had an illicit relationship with Mr. Trump.
Spending money to support a presidential campaign without revealing it is against federal campaign finance rules, even though such a payment is not prohibited.
A rump court appearance can air on television.
Due to federal court regulations, television cameras were prohibited in his three prior indictments; however, photojournalists were momentarily permitted in the Manhattan court.
However, because of local court regulations, this one might be televised.
The final say rests with the sitting judge, although chatbeet, most of the time, the request is granted.
Additionally, unlike in his previous arraignments, some legal observers believe Trump may have had a mugshot taken today.
If he is charged, the Fulton County Sheriff has promised that the court will “follow our normal practices”.
Trump’s exact appearance time is yet unknown, but the chief prosecutor stated that he has until next Friday, August 25, to turn himself in.
Donald Trump instructed a Georgian official to “find 11,780 votes.”
This most recent round of accusations, as we have been reporting, relates to Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to have the results of the US presidential election in Georgia in January 2020 overturned.
After a recording of the former president requesting the senior election official in a crucial southern state to “find” enough votes in his favor was leaked, the investigation was started.
Sound the Americast klaxon in case of emergency.
For those in need of a listen during breakfast or their commute, our colleagues have produced an urgent Americast edition concerning these new allegations brought against Donald Trump.
In order to go over all the important details, our North America editor Sarah Smith in Atlanta, our North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher in Washington, DC, and Radio 4’s Justin Webb in London have gathered.
They explain why this fourth indictment might be the most detrimental to Trump’s chances of winning the presidency again the following year. They spoke with the Republican Party chairman in Georgia about the former president’s potential defense as well.When will Donald Trump appear in court?
The short response is that we are unsure of the precise timing.
However, he and the other accused have been given the option to voluntarily surrender by Friday, August 25, at 12:00 local time.
What is happening?
If you’re just learning about this news, Donald Trump has now been accused of crimes four times in as many months.
His alleged attempts to tamper with the outcome of the crucial state of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election are the subject of this most recent indictment. Here is a quick summary of what is currently known:
The Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act of Georgia has charged the former president along with 18 other individuals on 41 counts.
After a recording of a phone call in which Trump instructed Georgia’s senior election official to “find 11,780 votes” was leaked, the investigation into the organization was started.
His former attorneys Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, his former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and former Justice Department employee Jeffrey Clark are among of the other significant individuals charged with him.
All 19 suspects will be prosecuted jointly, according to Fulton County Attorney General Fani Willis, who is also the lead prosecutor. They have until August 25 to turn themselves in.
Willis claimed that Trump’s suspected allies participated in a “illegal attempt” to “seize the presidency’s term.”
While Trump has called the accusations a “witch hunt,” his attorneys have called the circumstances “shocking and absurd.”
Charges are the “next chapter in a book of lies,” according to Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani, a prominent figure also named in this case, has now expressed his opinion.
The former New York mayor and former Trump lawyer claims the accusations are a “affront to American democracy” in a statement to the BBC’s US partner CHATBEET News.
He continues by claiming that the indictment “does permanent, irrevocable harm” to the legal system and that it is “just the next chapter in a book of lies” intended to put Trump and everyone else “willing to take on the ruling regime” in the dock.
The people who have taken this case forward both directly and indirectly are the real criminals in this situation.
“The people who have taken this case forward both directly and indirectly are the real criminals in this situation.
The prosecutor summarizes the indictment.
A press conference was held by the prosecutor on Tuesday just before midnight local time.
She claimed that all those charged with conspiring to “accomplish the illegal goal of allowing Donald J. Trump to seize the presidential term of office” were indicted.
Trump calls the charges a “witch hunt.”
The former president has responded to our questions in the recent minutes.
A “witch hunt” against Donald Trump is denounced by him in a post on his Truth Social network.
He draws attention to a story that an indictment against Trump appeared earlier today on the Fulton County court’s website before the accusations were properly made public.
What about the indictment papers that were released today, before the grand jury even made a decision, and then abruptly withheld? To me, that sounds rigged.
Why didn’t they indict me 2.5 years ago? he asks, appearing to imply the accusations against him are political in nature. they wanted to do it in the midst of my political campaign, for that reason.
Along with Trump, attorneys, advisers, and officials were indicted.
Co-defendants in this action include a long list of individuals, with Trump at the top of the list.
Rudy Giuliani, a former mayor of New York and Trump’s attorney, is another prominent co-conspirator who was charged with making false statements as well as other offenses for giving false evidence to Georgia lawmakers regarding election fraud that did not occur.
John Eastman, a colleague of Trump’s and the creator of the former president’s legal defense that sought to keep him in office, is another well-known figure.
Most legal experts concur that their arguments had no merit because they were repeatedly rejected by courts.
Additionally, Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff, is mentioned in this indictment.
The list also includes Jeffrey Clark, a former justice department employee who is charged with aiding Trump in his ongoing campaign for reelection.
Rico and other allegations against Trump
Out of the 41 criminal counts in the current indictment, 13 were against Donald Trump.
The most serious charge was an alleged violation of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (Rico) of Georgia.
The potent statute created in 1970 initially targeted mob crime but has since been applied to the prosecution of other offenses, like as white-collar crimes and public corruption.
Rico gives legislators the authority to group together a number of seemingly unrelated actions taken by several individuals if they are thought to achieve a same goal.
Trump is also accused of soliciting a public official’s oath breach, conspiring to impersonate a public official, forging documents, making false claims, and drafting and conspiring to file false documents.
Turn of events is “shocking and absurd,” claim Trump’s attorneys.
The Monday developments were described as “shocking and absurd” in a statement from Trump’s attorneys.
According to the attorneys Drew Findling, Jennifer Little, and Marissa Goldberg, the Fulton Country District Attorney’s Office “forced through and rushed” the indictment and relied on witnesses who “habour their own personal and political interests”.
Fani Willis is “following [Joe] Biden’s lead,” according to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, in “weaponizing government” against political elements.
Democrats criticized the former US president in the meanwhile.
In a joint statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said that Trump’s fourth indictment “portrays a repeated pattern of criminal activity”.
“The actions taken by the Fulton County District Attorney, along with other state and federal prosecutors, reaffirms the shared belief that in America no one, not even the president, is above the law,” they claimed.
What fees are involved?
The defendants are referred to as a “criminal organization” in the charge sheet, and they are charged with a variety of offences, including:
False writings and statements
pretending to be a public official
Forgery
submitting forged documents
controlling witnesses
Computer intrusion
committing fraud against the state
Fraud and theft.
Violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act), the most serious accusation, carries a potential 20-year jail sentence.
The 19 defendants, according to Willis, will be tried jointly.
Fani Willis simply replied “Yes” when asked if she intended to try all 19 defendants in the indictment concurrently.
She is also questioned over a document that allegedly contained accusations against Trump and was earlier today uploaded on the county website before being swiftly removed before an official indictment was returned.
Willis declines to remark on that subject.
“What I can tell you is that we had a grand jury here in Fulton County and they deliberated until almost eight o’clock,” she added.
“Right after eight o’clock, an indictment was returned.”
Who else has been charged?
In addition to Trump, the list of 18 defendants also includes, to name a few:
ex-Trump attorney Adolph Giuliani
Mark Meadows, a former chief of staff at the White House
John Eastman, a former White House attorney
Jeffrey Clark, a former employee in the Justice Department
The accusers are said to have “knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump,” according to the indictment.
Willis provides a date for defendants’ surrender.
Defendants have until Friday, August 25, at 12:00 local time to voluntarily surrender, according to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
She is currently answering a few questions from journalists “before going to sleep.” In Atlanta, it’s almost midnight.
Willis claims the defendants attempted to assist Trump in “seizing” power.
According to Willis, each defendant included in the indictment is accused of breaking Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act because they allegedly assisted Donald J. Trump in “the illegal effort to seize the presidential term of office.”
She stated: “The indictment charges that the defendants engaged in a criminal, racketeering operation to overthrow Georgia’s presidential election results, rather than comply with Georgia’s legitimate process for election challenges.
Fani Willis analyzes the complaint
Fani Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, has just entered the space. Along with a number of other prosecutors working on the Trump inquiry, she is present.
According to her, the grand jury filed an indictment today “charging 19 individuals with violations of Georgia law arriving from a criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in this state.”
She argued that everyone named in the indictment is innocent unless proven guilty.
Soon, Fani Willis of Georgia will talk
I’m awaiting words from the district attorney in a Fulton County, Georgia government building directly across from the courthouse.
She will be speaking for the first time following the revelation that a 41-count indictment against Trump and 18 other people.
Hello again
Just before midnight, the charges have been dropped.
In an effort to reverse his Georgia loss in the 2020 election, former US President Donald Trump has been charged.
A Fulton County grand jury has indicted him together with 18 other people on 41 counts, some of which include racketeering.
Fourth time this year that Trump has been accused criminally, according to the indictment.
In each instance, he has refuted the charges.
In Fulton County, Georgia, our reporters are anticipating a press conference. As soon as we have it, we’ll give you the latest.
When there is new information on charges, we’ll be back.
We’ll take a break from this page as we await additional updates from Atlanta.
Here is a brief summary of what happened today in the interim:
Since the former president lost Georgia by 11,779 votes to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, we’ve been waiting for information on the allegations brought against him.
Before casting its vote earlier today, the grand jury, which determines whether there is enough evidence for a criminal case to move forward, heard testimony from witnesses.
Just moments ago, the court clerk informed reporters that there were “10 indictments”; however, it is unclear how many of them were against Trump and what allegations specifically apply to him.
Trump is now facing criminal charges in Florida for handling confidential documents, New York for payments to a porn star, and Washington, DC, where a special prosecutor has reportedly accused him of plotting to rig the 2020 election.
As further information becomes available, our reporters Kayla Epstein and Madeline Halpert will be in court in Atlanta waiting to cover it. Sam Cabral and Mike Wendling assisted Marianna Brady and Brandon Livesay in editing this page.
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