Trump and 18 allies charged in Georgia
Here is what we know about the Georgia case:
- Trump and the others named in the 98-page indictment have until noon on Friday, Aug. 25, to voluntarily surrender.
- The legal case revolves mostly around the state’s RICO statute, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which penalizes activities of individuals engaging in organized crime.
- Others indicted included former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
- Willis said she would seek a trial “in the next six weeks” but scheduling is up to the appointed judge.
- Much of the indictment focused on behind-the-scenes pressure campaign on state election workers and the overt harassment that resulted from Trump’s naming of Ruby Freeman, a poll worker he falsely accused of fraud.
Why is this case taking place in Fulton county?
Nearly all of the key events connected to Trump’s effort to overturn Georgia’s election results took place in Atlanta, the state capitol, which is in Fulton county.
Raffensperger was in Atlanta when he received the phone call from Trump urging him to overturn the election results. Trump and Giuliani targeted election workers in Atlanta and the fake electors convened at the state capitol in the city in December of 2020.
What is the Georgia Rico Act?
The Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act is a state-level law that enables prosecutors to combat organized criminal activities by targeting not just individual criminal acts but also the criminal enterprises that orchestrate and profit from them. Modeled after the federal RICO statute, the Georgia RICO Act provides law enforcement and prosecutors with a powerful tool to dismantle and prosecute complex criminal networks.
Under the Georgia RICO Act, prosecutors are allowed to connect various criminal activities committed by multiple individuals or entities and bring charges against the overarching criminal enterprise. In order to invoke the RICO Act, prosecutors must demonstrate the existence of a criminal enterprise that has engaged in a minimum of two underlying criminal acts.
What sets Georgia’s RICO Act apart from the federal statute is its expanded scope. While the federal RICO Act primarily targets organized crime like the mafia, Georgia’s version applies to a wider range of situations. It empowers prosecutors within the state to press racketeering charges not only when an individual carries out criminal actions, but also when they attempt or solicit criminal activities, even if formal charges aren’t filed for those specific crimes.
By implementing the Georgia RICO Act, the state aims to address the broader scope of organized criminal activities within its borders. This law serves as a deterrent to individuals involved in creating, maintaining, or profiting from criminal enterprises. It also helps law enforcement and prosecutors bring more comprehensive charges against organized criminal networks, allowing for a more effective approach in tackling complex criminal activities.
In summary, the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act is a state law that mirrors the federal RICO statute but has an even broader application. It permits prosecutors to link together various criminal acts committed by multiple parties under the umbrella of a criminal enterprise. This legal tool aids in combating organized crime and holding individuals accountable for their involvement in such criminal networks.
How did the charges come about?
In January 2022, District Attorney Fani Willis from Fulton County, Georgia, took a step towards investigating former President Donald Trump. She asked a judge to establish a special purpose grand jury specifically for this investigation. This type of grand jury has the authority to ask for evidence, listen to people’s testimonies, and eventually create a report that suggests whether charges should be brought against someone. However, it doesn’t have the power to officially charge someone with a crime.
Later, around July of the same year, a regular grand jury was assembled. This regular grand jury then made a decision after reviewing the evidence. They voted and decided that there was enough reason to believe that Donald Trump should face criminal charges.
In simple terms, District Attorney Fani Willis wanted to investigate Donald Trump, so she requested a special kind of group called a special purpose grand jury. This group can gather information and suggest if charges should be made. Then, a different group known as a regular grand jury looked at all the evidence and voted that Donald Trump should indeed face criminal charges.
