Ex-President Trump indicted in Georgia for election interference

Former US President Donald Trump, along with 18 others, has been indicted on charges that include racketeering in a 41-count indictment issued by a Fulton County grand jury in Georgia. This marks the fourth time that Mr. Trump has faced criminal charges this year, with all accusations denied by him.

The indictment is a result of an investigation launched by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in February 2021, probing allegations of election meddling against Mr. Trump and his associates. Among the individuals listed in the indictment are former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, ex-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, former White House lawyer John Eastman, and former justice department official Jeffrey Clark.

The indictment alleges that the accused “knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump.” It refers to them as a “criminal organization,” charging them with various offenses including false statements, impersonation, forgery, filing false documents, influencing witnesses, computer trespass, and conspiracy to defraud the state.

A notable charge, violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act), could result in a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. This act aids prosecutors in connecting the actions of individuals who broke laws to those who instructed them.

Mr. Trump, currently leading the race for the Republican Party’s presidential candidate in 2024, has labeled the investigation as politically biased. The Trump campaign characterized the district attorney’s actions as an attempt to interfere with the upcoming presidential race.

Earlier, a list of criminal charges against Mr. Trump appeared on a Fulton County website prior to the grand jury’s indictment vote, causing confusion. A spokesperson for Ms. Willis confirmed the document was “fictitious,” though the reason for its appearance on the court’s website remains unclear.

Trump’s indictment is not his first this year, having already faced federal charges in Washington DC for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election, which he lost to President Joe Biden. The investigation led by Ms. Willis specifically focuses on Georgia, a state where Trump requested officials to “find” votes to overturn his election loss.