Trump and 18 others charged in Georgia election inquiry
15-08-2023, 13:06

Font size: [ A+ ] / [ A- ]

Former US President Donald Trump has been charged with attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat in the state of Georgia.

It is the fourth criminal case brought against him in as many months.

Mr Trump, who is the leading Republican candidate for president in 2024, was indicted along with 18 other allies.

He denies all 13 charges against him, which include racketeering and election meddling. He has said they are politically motivated.

Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis first launched an investigation in February 2021 into allegations of election meddling against Mr Trump and his associates.

In a 98-page indictment made public late on Monday, prosecutors listed 41 charges against the 19 defendants.

Ms Willis announced she was giving defendants the opportunity to voluntarily surrender no later than noon on Friday 25 August. She said she plans to try all 19 accused together.

The list of alleged co-conspirators includes former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former White House lawyer John Eastman.

Others include a former justice department official, Jeffrey Clark, and Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis - two Trump lawyers who amplified unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud.

The indictment says the defendants "knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favour of Trump".

The former president is accused of the following felony counts, including:

  • Violating Georgia's racketeering act
  • Solicitation of violation of oath by public officer
  • Conspiracy to impersonate a public officer
  • Conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree
  • False statements and writings and filing false documents

The indictment refers to the defendants as a "criminal organization", accusing them of other crimes including influencing witnesses, computer trespass, theft and perjury.

The most serious charge, violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (Rico) Act, is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. 

The act - designed to help take down organised criminal syndicates like the mafia - helps prosecutors connect the dots between underlings who broke laws and those who gave them orders. 

Mr Trump, currently the frontrunner in the Republican Party's race to pick its next candidate for the White House, said the investigation by Ms Willis, a Democrat, was politically motivated.

 

 

More coverage

line

In a statement, the Trump campaign described the district attorney as a "rabid partisan" who had filed "these bogus indictments" to interfere with the 2024 presidential race and "damage the dominant Trump campaign".

"This latest co-ordinated strike by a biased prosecutor in an overwhelmingly Democrat jurisdiction not only betrays the trust of the American people, but also exposes the true motivation driving their fabricated accusations," said the statement.

He is the first former president in US history to face criminal charges.

There was confusion earlier on Monday when a list of a criminal charges against Mr Trump appeared on a Fulton County website before the grand jury had voted to return an indictment.

The filing said Mr Trump had been charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit fraud and making false statements.

A spokesperson for Ms Willis said the document was "fictitious" but did not explain how it ended up on the court's website.

Mr Trump and his allies seized on the apparent clerical error to claim the process was rigged.

Earlier this month, Mr Trump was charged by federal prosecutors in Washington DC with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election, which he lost to President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

That charge sheet devoted significant time to the Trump team's activities in Georgia. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty in that case.

Ms Willis' investigation focuses specifically on Georgia, a key battleground state for the US presidency that Mr Trump narrowly lost.

In January 2021, Mr Trump was recorded on a phone call asking Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" 11,780 votes - the number he would have required to beat Mr Biden in that state.

The indictment outlines an alleged scheme to tamper with voting machines in one Georgia county and steal data.

It also mentions an alleged scheme to submit false lists of electors, officials who make up the Electoral College that elects the president and vice-president.

Mr Trump also faces a New York state trial on 25 March next year involving a hush money payment to a porn star. And he is due to go on trial in Florida on 20 May on allegations related to his handling of classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago residence after his presidency.

In both cases Mr Trump also pleaded not guilty.

 

BBC

Comments: 3192
#1092   Jolene
      
28 June 2025 18:03
#1091   Bennie
      
Also visit my webpage :: Play poker Online
28 June 2025 05:07
#1090   Gilberto
      
Also visit my webpage - Play Poker Online
28 June 2025 02:19
#1089   Brittney
      
It's remarkable to go to see this web site and reading the views of all friends about
this article, while I am also keen of getting experience.

Here is my web blog :: Play Poker Online
27 June 2025 05:10
#1088   Monserrate
      
Also visit my webpage Play poker online
26 June 2025 04:23
#1087   Alisia
      
Review my homepage - Live
poker online
26 June 2025 03:47
#1086   Kai
      
Feel free to visit my web-site - play poker online
26 June 2025 02:44
#1085   Bernie
      
my web page ... best online poker
26 June 2025 00:45
#1084   Alejandrina
      
Have a look at my web-site Highstakes Poker
25 June 2025 21:13
#1083   Shiela
      
My blog - Roger
25 June 2025 16:59
#1082   Lucile
      
24 June 2025 13:51
#1081   Erik
      
Here is my blog: Live poker
24 June 2025 12:41
#1080   Matt
      
It means they can work around drying times so, overall, the job will be shorter
and cheaper.

Also visit my web page; dry lining services near me (http://linxuscu.net)
24 June 2025 07:56
#1079   Justine
      
Our hard-working team communicate with the clients and ensure to provide clean and reliable service for their
needs.

Here is my website: residential painter near me
24 June 2025 06:41
#1078   Kam
      
We repair and redecorate inland and offshore lighthouses, including heritage sites, using
specialised products and specially trained teams.


Also visit my blog ... plastering contractors
24 June 2025 02:54
#1077   Tara
      
Our course finder has over 1,000 courses leading to a range of NHS careers.



Here is my site; interior house painting services (Soon)
24 June 2025 02:32
#1076   Essie
      
These top-quality decorating tools include many essentials
that can help with everything from major paint jobs and woodwork repairs to sealing the edges and
bases of baths and sinks and hanging wallpaper.

my web-site painting and decorating (1foryou1foryouth.org)
24 June 2025 01:38
#1075   Arletha
      
Our assortment of wood treatments is ideal for a range of needs both indoor and outdoor, whether you’re
looking after your wood furniture or wanting to
improve the quality and lifespan of your garden.

My webpage: residential painter near me
24 June 2025 00:58
#1074   Tracee
      
24 June 2025 00:34
#1073   Antonia
      
By providing us with your personal details you are consenting for
the college to retain these details in order to contact you in response to your enquiry.


Have a look at my webpage :: painting
service
23 June 2025 18:31
Add Comments

Name:*
E-Mail:
  Geo Keyboard  
 

Dear reader, guardian.ge welcomes your comments. Please express your views on topic and be respectful of others.

bold italic underline strike | align left centered align right | Ensert smilies insert linkInsert protected URL Choice the color | hidden text insert quote Convert selected text from transliteration to Cyrillic alphabet Insert spoiler

Code: *