Former President Donald Trump was indicted Monday evening over his alleged attempts to interfere with the 2020 election results in Georgia.
Trump and 18 other defendants, including his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani and his former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, face multiple felony charges, including racketeering.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating the former president since February 2021, weeks after Trump called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and asked him to “find” the number of votes he’d need to reverse Joe Biden’s victory in the state.
Trump has defended his actions, describing his call to Raffensperger as “perfect.”
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And please do keep coming back to HuffPost for in-depth coverage of all four of Trump's indictments.
Bye for now!
Giuliani Struggling With Massive Legal Bills
Rudy Giuliani was facing paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars over legal fees and lawsuits even before the Georgia indictment, CNN reported.
Trump's former personal attorney said in court Monday that he was effectively out of cash. He's listed for sale a three-bedroom Manhattan apartment he owns for $6.5 million.
Giuliani faces decisions in two 2020 election defamation lawsuits against him potentially this week.
Read more here.
Trump's former personal attorney said in court Monday that he was effectively out of cash. He's listed for sale a three-bedroom Manhattan apartment he owns for $6.5 million.
Giuliani faces decisions in two 2020 election defamation lawsuits against him potentially this week.
Read more here.
Key Moment
CHENEY ORR via Reuters
The Latest Things To Know About The Georgia Indictment
1. Donald Trump was indicted for a fourth time on Monday alongside 18 other defendants. All stand accused of engaging in a far-reaching criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
2. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis leveled racketeering charges against a host of attorneys and Trump aides, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and lawyers Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and John Eastman, who was an architect of the plan to challenge the certification of electoral votes.
3. Arrest warrants have been issued, and all defendants have been given until noon on Aug. 25 to surrender. They are expected to be booked in Atlanta’s Rice Street Jail.
4. Unlike Trump’s other indictments, his arraignment and trial are set to be televised under Georgia provisions that prioritize transparency in the legal system.
5. The indictment could very well be the hardest for Trump to escape. Even if he wins the presidency next year, he is not able to pardon himself for state crimes. And Georgia is unique among many states in that the governor does not have the direct power to pardon or commute sentences.
6. Willis’ hope for a speedy trial in Georgia is already upsetting the defendants. Meadows’ attorneys are trying to move the trial to federal court, and legal experts say Trump may try to do the same.
7. Trump is furious. He has vowed to released his own “report” next week that he claims will exonerate him on all charges.
2. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis leveled racketeering charges against a host of attorneys and Trump aides, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and lawyers Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell and John Eastman, who was an architect of the plan to challenge the certification of electoral votes.
3. Arrest warrants have been issued, and all defendants have been given until noon on Aug. 25 to surrender. They are expected to be booked in Atlanta’s Rice Street Jail.
4. Unlike Trump’s other indictments, his arraignment and trial are set to be televised under Georgia provisions that prioritize transparency in the legal system.
5. The indictment could very well be the hardest for Trump to escape. Even if he wins the presidency next year, he is not able to pardon himself for state crimes. And Georgia is unique among many states in that the governor does not have the direct power to pardon or commute sentences.
6. Willis’ hope for a speedy trial in Georgia is already upsetting the defendants. Meadows’ attorneys are trying to move the trial to federal court, and legal experts say Trump may try to do the same.
7. Trump is furious. He has vowed to released his own “report” next week that he claims will exonerate him on all charges.
Associated Press
All Defendants To Be Booked At Atlanta Jail
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday evening that the 19 people indicted Monday are expected to be booked in Atlanta’s Rice Street Jail.
"At this point, based on guidance received from the district attorney’s office and presiding judge, it is expected that all 19 defendants named in the indictment will be booked at the Rice Street Jail," a statement from the department said.
Defendants have until noon on Aug. 25 to turn themselves in.
"At this point, based on guidance received from the district attorney’s office and presiding judge, it is expected that all 19 defendants named in the indictment will be booked at the Rice Street Jail," a statement from the department said.
Defendants have until noon on Aug. 25 to turn themselves in.
Associated Press
DeSantis Thinks Trump’s Latest Indictment Shows The ‘Criminalization Of Politics’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis slammed former President Donald Trump’s most recent indictment on Tuesday, The Hill reported.
“I think it’s an example of this criminalization of politics,” DeSantis, who is running against Trump in the GOP presidential primary, said during a press call. “I don’t think this is something that’s good for the country.”
The Florida governor also bashed Atlanta, saying it has “huge problems with crime” and that its strategy to eliminate it has been “less than exacting.”
“I think there are criminals that they’ve let out that shouldn’t have been let out,” DeSantis added. “And so now they’re doing an inordinate amount of resources to try to shoehorn this contest over the 2020 election into a RICO statute, which was really designed to be able to go after organized crime.”
“I think it’s an example of this criminalization of politics,” DeSantis, who is running against Trump in the GOP presidential primary, said during a press call. “I don’t think this is something that’s good for the country.”
The Florida governor also bashed Atlanta, saying it has “huge problems with crime” and that its strategy to eliminate it has been “less than exacting.”
“I think there are criminals that they’ve let out that shouldn’t have been let out,” DeSantis added. “And so now they’re doing an inordinate amount of resources to try to shoehorn this contest over the 2020 election into a RICO statute, which was really designed to be able to go after organized crime.”
Associated Press
Giuliani Speaks Through His Lawyer
Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, one of 19 people indicted in this case, typically speaks to reporters himself, but he leaned on his lawyer Ted Goodman as a mouthpiece Tuesday.
“This is a man who isn’t afraid to fight. He knows what he’s done is all by the book, and justice will prevail,” Goodman said at a news conference that largely focused on Giuliani’s history as the mayor of New York City.
When reporters asked him why Giuliani was missing in action, Goodman simply replied that his client is “a busy man.”
“This is a man who isn’t afraid to fight. He knows what he’s done is all by the book, and justice will prevail,” Goodman said at a news conference that largely focused on Giuliani’s history as the mayor of New York City.
When reporters asked him why Giuliani was missing in action, Goodman simply replied that his client is “a busy man.”
AP Photo
Meadows Requests Move To Federal Court
Trump's former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who was indicted Monday, is seeking to move his trial to federal court, according to a Tuesday filing.
In the filing, Meadows' attorneys argue that because he was charged for actions he allegedly carried out as a federal official, the trial should be moved from state to federal court.
They also argue that "nothing Mr. Meadows is alleged in the indictment to have done is criminal per se: arranging Oval Office meetings, contacting state officials on the President's behalf, visiting a state government building, and setting up a phone call for the President. One would expect a Chief of Staff to the President of the United States to do these sorts of things."
"This is precisely the kind of state interference in a federal official’s duties that the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits, and that the removal statute shields against," the filing reads.
The indictment makes several criminal allegations against Meadows, including his involvement in the now-infamous call Trump made to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in January 2021.
In the filing, Meadows' attorneys argue that because he was charged for actions he allegedly carried out as a federal official, the trial should be moved from state to federal court.
They also argue that "nothing Mr. Meadows is alleged in the indictment to have done is criminal per se: arranging Oval Office meetings, contacting state officials on the President's behalf, visiting a state government building, and setting up a phone call for the President. One would expect a Chief of Staff to the President of the United States to do these sorts of things."
"This is precisely the kind of state interference in a federal official’s duties that the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits, and that the removal statute shields against," the filing reads.
The indictment makes several criminal allegations against Meadows, including his involvement in the now-infamous call Trump made to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in January 2021.
Fulton County Clerk Explains Pre-Indictment Docket Error
Monday afternoon, Reuters reported that a document listing charges against Trump had been filed with the Fulton County court, before a grand jury had actually handed up its indictment of the former president. Then the document vanished, the Fulton County Clerk’s office issued a statement calling it “fictitious” and Reuters walked back its reporting — all sparking confusion. Trump supporters worked themselves into a frenzy, calling for a mistrial on social media when a trial is still months from beginning.
Tuesday afternoon, Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts Che Alexander issued another statement with a more complete explanation. Alexander said she filed a placeholder document to test the computer system “in anticipation of issues that arise with entering a potentially large indictment.”
“Unfortunately, the sample working document led to the docketing of what appeared to be an indictment, but which was, in fact, only a fictitious docket sheet," the statement said.
Tuesday afternoon, Fulton County Clerk of Superior and Magistrate Courts Che Alexander issued another statement with a more complete explanation. Alexander said she filed a placeholder document to test the computer system “in anticipation of issues that arise with entering a potentially large indictment.”
“Unfortunately, the sample working document led to the docketing of what appeared to be an indictment, but which was, in fact, only a fictitious docket sheet," the statement said.
AP Images
Will Trump Try To Move Trial To Federal Court?
Although Trump’s latest indictment was filed in Georgia state court, legal experts say there’s a solid chance his legal team will attempt to have the case moved to federal court, which could have significant implications for the trial’s outcome.
Federal court would present the former president with two benefits: the possibility of a Trump-appointed judge and the potential of a more Trump-friendly juror pool. Georgia’s Fulton County, where Trump has been charged, is heavily Democratic, and 72% of votes in the 2020 election there were for President Joe Biden.
If Trump attempts this maneuver, he’ll most likely argue that the crimes he’s charged with relate to his duties as a member of the federal government and cite a federal statute that allows cases to be moved.
Trump, who’s been indicted in three other cases, has already tried and failed to move his other state-level charge, which regards hush money payments to the porn star Stormy Daniels, to federal court. A judge shot down the request, saying the charges weren’t related to Trump’s presidential powers.
Federal court would present the former president with two benefits: the possibility of a Trump-appointed judge and the potential of a more Trump-friendly juror pool. Georgia’s Fulton County, where Trump has been charged, is heavily Democratic, and 72% of votes in the 2020 election there were for President Joe Biden.
If Trump attempts this maneuver, he’ll most likely argue that the crimes he’s charged with relate to his duties as a member of the federal government and cite a federal statute that allows cases to be moved.
Trump, who’s been indicted in three other cases, has already tried and failed to move his other state-level charge, which regards hush money payments to the porn star Stormy Daniels, to federal court. A judge shot down the request, saying the charges weren’t related to Trump’s presidential powers.
Protesters Largely Absent
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) urged her fellow Trump supporters not to show up outside the Fulton County Courthouse in protest of the charges, writing on social media, "Don't give them an ounce of your flesh."
Fortunately for her, there has been no sign of any such thing, although Atlanta officials have stepped up security as a precaution. In the past, Trump has urged his supporters to turn out en masse to oppose his indictments, with meager results.
Fortunately for her, there has been no sign of any such thing, although Atlanta officials have stepped up security as a precaution. In the past, Trump has urged his supporters to turn out en masse to oppose his indictments, with meager results.
Other Fulton County RICO Cases Have Taken A While
Since its adoption in 1980, Georgia’s expansive state RICO act has been used in other very high-profile cases. But two recent examples out of Fulton County have taken quite a while, raising questions about how plausible it is that Trump’s trial will start within six months, as Willis wants.
Willis brought state RICO charges against rapper Young Thug and more than two dozen members of his artist collective in May 2022. While jury selection began this past January, a panel has still not been seated more than six months later. Many of the prospective jurors have argued the monthslong time commitment required by the trial is too much to ask, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In 2013, a group of 35 Georgia educators were indicted on a test-score-rigging scheme in a case that also involved the state RICO act. (Willis, then working as a prosecutor, helped lead the case.) Jury selection began more than a year after the indictments, in August 2014, followed by opening statements a month later. The trial itself lasted more than six months, concluding in April 2015.
Willis brought state RICO charges against rapper Young Thug and more than two dozen members of his artist collective in May 2022. While jury selection began this past January, a panel has still not been seated more than six months later. Many of the prospective jurors have argued the monthslong time commitment required by the trial is too much to ask, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In 2013, a group of 35 Georgia educators were indicted on a test-score-rigging scheme in a case that also involved the state RICO act. (Willis, then working as a prosecutor, helped lead the case.) Jury selection began more than a year after the indictments, in August 2014, followed by opening statements a month later. The trial itself lasted more than six months, concluding in April 2015.
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