West News Wire: There has been an ongoing criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s and his supporters’ attempts to rig the Georgia 2020 election results for more than two and a half years.
Last year, Fani Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, convened a special grand jury to make suggestions on criminal charges. Soon, a new grand jury convened in July is anticipated to consider any potential charges against Trump relating to the election.
Willis recently gave the impression that an accusation would be coming soon. Here is a look at the major participants in the Georgia election investigation outside of Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, as the DA appears to be nearing the conclusion of her inquiry.
President Joe Biden won the state, according to Raffensperger, who also recertified the results after Donald Trump’s campaign asked for a recount. In a now-famous phone call on January 2, 2021, which news channels obtained, Trump instructed Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to win Georgia. Raffensperger gave a testimony to the special grand jury the previous year.
The criminal investigation was started by Willis in February 2021, one month after Trump’s phone talk to Raffensperger, according to a letter to state officials that news outlets were able to receive.
“This investigation includes, but is not limited to, potential violations of Georgia law prohibiting the solicitation of election fraud, the making of false statements to state and local governmental bodies, conspiracy, racketeering, violation of oath of office and any involvement in violence or threats related to the election’s administration,” Willis wrote in the letter.
Trump’s legal team has unsuccessfully sought to remove her from the case and quash the special grand jury report.
The DA’s case has been given to McBurney. Parts of the special grand jury’s report will be made public, but the majority will stay sealed, he ruled in February.
On the Raffensperger call, Meadows, who was the White House’s chief of staff at the time, was overheard speaking. Last year, a judge compelled him to address the special grand jury.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Trump’s former personal lawyer was alerted last year that he is a “target” of the investigation being conducted by the Fulton County district attorney.
John Eastman, a former Trump campaign attorney, gave testimony before the special grand jury last year and invoked the Fifth Amendment, according to his counsel at the time. They advised him to “assert attorney client privilege and the constitutional right to remain silent where appropriate,” they said in a statement.
Prosecutors revealed in court filings last year that 16 “fake electors” who allegedly took part in a plot to tamper with the state’s election results were informed that they were thought to be targets in the criminal probe.
Willis was barred by McBurney from looking into one of the 16 Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones because she hosted a fundraiser for his rival last year.
According to their attorney, eight of the “fake electors” agreed to immunity in the investigation in May.
