Share This Article
Trump Indicted in Georgia: Un
On August 10th, 2020, federal authorities in Georgia indicted President Donald Trump on charges of criminal conduct related to his attempts to influence the 2020 election results in the state. The indictment from the U.S. attorney’s office in Atlanta accuses Trump of obstruction of justice, witness tampering and corruption of the election process. This is the first time in American history that a sitting president has been indicted.
Prosecutors allege that Trump conspired with close associates, including former campaign manager Brad Parscale, to “pressure Georgia public officials to reverse the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.” According to the indictment, the president directed Parscale to “orchestrate a phone call with Georgia’s Secretary of State in an effort to influence the outcome of the election.” Parscale was also charged with obstruction of justice and corruption of the election process.
The indictment is the latest development in a long line of controversies and investigations surrounding the president’s involvement in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election in several states. The case adds to a growing list of legal woes for the president, who faces multiple lawsuits alleging election fraud.
The indictment comes at a critical juncture in Trump’s presidency. He is facing an uphill battle to stay in office, as the Electoral College has already declared Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 election. Trump has refused to concede and has made baseless claims of widespread voter fraud. His legal challenges have thus far failed, with courts rejecting multiple lawsuits alleging fraud.
Trump’s indictment is sure to complicate the president’s attempts to cling to power. It could also pave the way for potential impeachment proceedings against Trump. Although the indictment is unlikely to lead to a conviction since Trump will soon be out of office, it still further undermines his authority and legacy as president.
Only time will tell what the long-term implications of this indictment will be. But one thing is certain: Donald Trump’s criminal conduct in attempting to overturn the 2020 election has resulted in history-making consequences.On January 18, 2021, former President Donald Trump was indicted by a Georgia grand jury in connection to a criminal investigation into alleged attempted election fraud during the 2020 presidential election. The indictment marks the first time a sitting or former president has been criminally charged in a state-level investigation.
The indictment stems from a criminal investigation launched by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in November 2020 amid allegations that Trump, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and other associates had attempted to influence the state’s election results in Trump’s favor.
Local grand jury documents allege Trump “did unlawfully solicit, request, encourage and cause” Georgia’s top election official, Brad Raffensperger, to “find” additional votes to overturn the state’s 2020 presidential election results. The documents also allege that, in violation of Georgia’s Election Interference Statute, Trump “used intimidation, threats and corrupt persuasion to solicit election fraud” by pressuring Raffensperger to change the election results.
In a call between Trump and Raffensperger that was made public in January 2021, Trump asked the election official to “find” enough votes to let him win the state. The call has since become a key piece of evidence in the investigation against Trump.
The indictment comes just days after the former president left office. If convicted, Trump could face up to 10 years in prison.
Trump, however, has denied any wrongdoing and has referred to the investigation as a “witch hunt.” Trump has also maintained that he won the 2020 election and has repeatedly made baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and irregularities.
The indictment marks a major step in the investigation and could set a precedent for future investigations of sitting and former presidents. Though the indictment is limited to only one state, the results could open the door to criminal charges in other states, and even at the federal level.
The investigation is ongoing and no trial date has yet been set. It is unclear if Trump will ever face trial in this case or be found guilty. But for now, the former president is facing charges in a historic criminal indictment.
