Fulton County Grand Jury Expected to Criminally Indict Trump Under State RICO Statute: Latest Updates
Former President Donald Trump may face criminal indictment under the state RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) statute in Fulton County, Georgia. The development comes as the district attorney, Fani Willis, presents her case to the grand jury. While a document listing several criminal charges against Trump briefly appeared online, it was later taken down. The Fulton County District Attorney’s office clarified that no charges have been filed against Trump at this time.
The document, dated August 14, mentions Donald John Trump and indicates an open case. It asserts that the charges are related to Trump’s actions following the 2020 election. The charges listed include Violation Of The Georgia Rico Act, Solicitation Of Violation Of Oath By Public Officer, Conspiracy To Commit False Statements and Writings, and Conspiracy To Commit Forgery in the First Degree. A total of 39 charges are reportedly included in the document.
Neither the Fulton County clerk’s office nor the Trump camp have issued statements in response to the docket report. However, this would mark the fourth indictment Trump has faced in the past five months, with this particular case being the second to address his post-election conduct.
Erick Erickson, a conservative talk show host and former lawyer, shed light on the legal process in Fulton County. He noted that Georgia’s RICO statute is one of the most comprehensive in the nation, encompassing various offenses. While federal RICO requires the demonstration of an overarching criminal enterprise, Georgia’s statute may not always necessitate it. The burden of proof for a RICO violation is reportedly lighter for prosecutors in Georgia compared to the federal level.
According to Erickson, a criminal indictment is expected this week. Eyes will be on the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta as the District Attorney presents evidence to the grand jury. The general timeline predicts an indictment on Tuesday followed by an arraignment on Thursday, as long as the security protocols in place do not get extended.
It is worth noting that a tweet from a reporter suggests the document may be a fake, although the authenticity of the case number remains unclear.
The developments surrounding Trump’s potential indictment in Fulton County are attracting significant attention, with different perspectives emerging on the matter. As the legal process unfolds, observers eagerly await further updates.
