Georgia Election Case: Grand Jury Action
- Fulton County, Georgia grand jury indicts 10 in criminal investigation against former U.S. President Donald Trump and allies.
UPDATE: The indictment unsealing process is officially underway.
Watch live on @MSNBC – we have cameras following nearly every step of this process as it unfolds.
— Blayne Alexander (@ReporterBlayne) August 15, 2023
- The indictments are related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
- The possibility of a televised trial means the public can see evidence presented.
TRUMP BOOKING PHOTO COMING: Fulton County Sheriff says ‘we’ll have mugshots ready for you’ when President Trump is arraigned in election conspiracy case pic.twitter.com/3reh0CSKPV
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 15, 2023
Implementation of Georgia’s RICO Act
- Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis reportedly used Georgia’s RICO Act in the charges.
- Under the RICO Act, various crimes can be linked together for a common goal, making it hard for defense to plan a coherent trial strategy.
- Convictions under the RICO Act could lead to lengthy prison sentences, often prompting co-defendants to seek deals for new evidence.
Pardoning Powers and Legal Consequences
- In Georgia, the governor cannot pardon convicts; that authority belongs to the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
- To apply for a pardon, the sentence must be completed at least five years prior.
- A U.S. president will not have the ability to pardon Trump in this specific case.
