Georgia has opened (ETA: criminal) investigation into Trump's election meddling and 'find me votes'

[Hans Blaster]

What a lucky break for them. They shamelessly commit a crime of trying to overturn the presidential election and they get to sign immunity deals. So I guess people will again try this scheme in future and expect to not be charged. Meanwhile the Proud boys get done for seditious conspiracy. Seems the elites are untouchable, while the nobodies get hit hard.

I have some sympathy for these low-level "fake electors". They were just politically active, loyal Republicans asked by someone more connected to do a task (serve as a presidential elector) "just in case" the Georgia election got flipped in the courts after the votes had to be cast and before Jan 6th.

These aren't the low-level co-conspirators that have stuff to give up on higher ups, just people who likely didn't realize anything they were doing was potentially illegal. They will have minor value when trials come to narrate from the inside what happened. ("They told me to come to the state capitol on Dec. 14 to serve as a Trump elector for when the election was flipped in the courts. ...")

As for the higher ups... It's pretty clear that Fulton County will indict Donald Trump and likely several of his political allies and lawyers (like Mark Meadows, Lindsey Graham, Rudy Guiliani, Cleta Mitchell,...) and those are some (but not all) of those involved in the overall national scheme.

 

[stevil]

I have some sympathy for these low-level "fake electors". They were just politically active, loyal Republicans asked by someone more connected to do a task (serve as a presidential elector) "just in case" the Georgia election got flipped in the courts after the votes had to be cast and before Jan 6th.

These aren't the low-level co-conspirators that have stuff to give up on higher ups, just people who likely didn't realize anything they were doing was potentially illegal. They will have minor value when trials come to narrate from the inside what happened. ("They told me to come to the state capitol on Dec. 14 to serve as a Trump elector for when the election was flipped in the courts. ...")

One would hope that the USA politicians have awareness of the law, have an ethical standard and are willing to consult their own legal team for advice when they are unsure about things. I understand that Rudy and Eastman were offering advice and that they are lawyers, but really them people should have been seeking their own council.
I cannot fatham this level of shenanigans as being OK, ever. I personally am very careful when I sign my signature on things and I am aware that my signature makes me accountable.
Signing a fake document, pretending to be the official electors in the hope that this will invalidate millions of legal votes and ultimately steal the election for your guy, is pretty disgusting and I can't see how any person in their right mind can think that is OK.

 

[Hans Blaster]

One would hope that the USA politicians have awareness of the law, have an ethical standard and are willing to consult their own legal team for advice when they are unsure about things. I understand that Rudy and Eastman were offering advice and that they are lawyers, but really them people should have been seeking their own council.
I cannot fatham this level of shenanigans as being OK, ever. I personally am very careful when I sign my signature on things and I am aware that my signature makes me accountable.
Signing a fake document, pretending to be the official electors in the hope that this will invalidate millions of legal votes and ultimately steal the election for your guy, is pretty disgusting and I can't see how any person in their right mind can think that is OK.

We'll see who those immune ones were when the charges come down. A lack of specific awareness is not too surprising given the rather arcane aspects of the Electoral vote system. I suspect there are many civically engaged voters who don't realize that they are voting for actual people that go to the state capitol and do the voting for President on a specific day (in this case Dec. 14, 2020).

Now these people shouldn't be that naive given they were told to take that role, but many of them were replacements (in many states, not sure about Georgia) because the regular Republican (Trump/Pence) electors who were technically "on the ballot" declined to participate in the fake/backup electors slate. So in many states (and likely Georgia) where this took place, the "subs" weren't well versed in even the mechanics of the process. (I recall, and I think it's from "electors" complaining that the police are turning them away, "electors" in Michigan stating that they were "Trump electors" and they were "told to be here at Noon". So there was definitely many in the clueless bin.)

They were likely told "We need you as electors for when the Biden slate is rejected by the court/legislature/Congress" and "no, no, it's perfectly legal." Though, we'll have to wait until testimony to find out.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Georgia GOP chairman says he was just following orders from Trump lawyers in fake elector scheme​

Lawyers representing David Shafer, the embattled chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, are arguing their client should not be charged with any crimes for his actions following the 2020 election because he was following advice provided by attorneys working for former President Donald Trump, according to a letter sent to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis last week.

Specifically, Shafer’s attorneys say their client was relying on “repeated and detailed advice of legal counsel” when he organized a group of “contingent” electors from Georgia and served as one himself, thus “eliminating any possibility of criminal intent or liability,” according to a copy of the May 5 letter.

In their letter to Willis’s office, Shafer’s lawyers say he was “given very direct, detailed legal advice on the procedure he should follow, and he followed those instructions to the letter.”

“I believe that any fair-minded person, with possession of all the facts, would conclude that Mr. Shafer and the other presidential elector nominees acted lawfully and appropriately,” the letter adds.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Georgia GOP chairman says he was just following orders from Trump lawyers in fake elector scheme​

Lawyers representing David Shafer, the embattled chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, are arguing their client should not be charged with any crimes for his actions following the 2020 election because he was following advice provided by attorneys working for former President Donald Trump, according to a letter sent to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis last week.

Specifically, Shafer’s attorneys say their client was relying on “repeated and detailed advice of legal counsel” when he organized a group of “contingent” electors from Georgia and served as one himself, thus “eliminating any possibility of criminal intent or liability,” according to a copy of the May 5 letter.

In their letter to Willis’s office, Shafer’s lawyers say he was “given very direct, detailed legal advice on the procedure he should follow, and he followed those instructions to the letter.”

“I believe that any fair-minded person, with possession of all the facts, would conclude that Mr. Shafer and the other presidential elector nominees acted lawfully and appropriately,” the letter adds.

If you consult lawyers because you plan to do something legally questionable and they give you a fine line to walk, you have to be aware that your lawyers could be wrong.

 

[essentialsaltes]

...you have to be aware that your lawyers could be wrong.

How much more so when it's not your lawyers, but Donald Trump's lawyers.

 

[Hans Blaster]

How much more so when it's not your lawyers, but Donald Trump's lawyers.

I missed that point. Something like 20 Trump associated laywers have been questioned in various things (not just elector and Jan 6 cases, but also the documents case) been searched, subpoened, etc. At least a few are likely targets of the Fulton Co. DA (Mitchell, Rudy).

Mr. Shafer should get a criminal defense lawyer and expect to be indicted this summer.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) asked judges in the Georgia county not to schedule trials and in-person hearings in roughly the first half of August, a signal she may bring charges against former President Trump during that time.

Willis also indicated about 70 percent of her staff will work remotely on various days in August, according to a letter sent Thursday to local judges, law enforcement officials and elected officials.

Willis gave no reason for the request but concluded the letter by thanking the recipients for their assistance in keeping the county’s judicial complex “safe during this time.”

 

[essentialsaltes]

Let's see how his prophecy holds up.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Georgia probe of Trump broadens to activities in other states​

In recent days, Willis has sought information related to the Trump campaign hiring two firms to find voter fraud across the United States and then burying their findings when they did not find it, allegations that reach beyond Georgia’s borders, said the two individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly about the investigation. At least one of the firms has been subpoenaed by Fulton County investigators.

The state’s RICO statute is among the most expansive in the nation, allowing prosecutors to build racketeering cases around violations of both state and federal laws — and even activities in other states.

 

[essentialsaltes]

New grand jury likely to decide Trump’s fate in Georgia election probe​

Two grand juries are to be impaneled Tuesday in Atlanta — one of which is likely to decide whether former president Donald Trump and his allies should face criminal charges for their efforts to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia.

A special-purpose grand jury impaneled to investigate the case heard from 75 witnesses over several months last year before issuing a final report in January. The report remains mostly sealed to protect the rights of “potential future defendants,” but the panel’s forewoman later said the special grand jury had recommended charges for multiple people; it did not have the power to issue indictments.

To bring criminal charges, Willis and her team will have to present their case to a regular grand jury — such as the two being seated Tuesday. In April, Willis said in a letter to local law enforcement and other officials that she planned to announce her charging decision between July 11 and Sept. 1, dates that coincided with the summer term of the latest Fulton County grand juries.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Georgia’s top court rejects Trump attempt to thwart prosecutor in 2020 election investigation​

The Georgia Supreme Court unanimously shot down a petition that Trump’s attorneys filed last week asking the court to intervene. Trump’s legal team argued that Fulton County Dist. Atty. Fani Willis and her office should be barred from seeking charges and that a special grand jury report that is part of the inquiry should be thrown out.

Regarding Trump’s attempt to block the prosecutors, the justices said his legal filing lacked “the facts or the law necessary to mandate Willis’s disqualification by this Court at this time on this record.”

'If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table.'

 

[jayem]

DA Willis will announce next month if Trump is indicted. Seems to me, the odds of him NOT being indicted are smaller than the odds of my winning the Powerball jackpot tonight. Most everyone has heard his taped phone call to the GA Sec. of State. If Trump was just disputing the election returns, and demanding a recount (which was done 3 times--all confirming Joe Biden's win) there'd be no problem. But Trump was asking Sec. Raffensperger to "find" a specific number of votes--11,780. Which would give him 1 vote more than Joe Biden's total, and add GA's 16 EVs to Donald's count. How in the world is this not solicitation to commit election fraud? And it's doubly stupid because even if Trump did win GA by a single vote, he still wouldn't have the 270 EVs needed to be re-elected.

I can't imagine what defense Trump's lawyers will present to the jury after the prosecution plays the taped phone call, and explains the GA statute on criminal solicitation to commit election fraud. If I were his attorney, I'd definitely ask for a change of venue. The Atlanta metro area tends to be Democratic. Joe Biden won Atlanta/Fulton County in 2020 with almost 73% of the vote.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Georgia GOP chairman says he was just following orders from Trump lawyers in fake elector scheme​

Lawyers representing David Shafer, the embattled chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, are arguing their client should not be charged with any crimes for his actions following the 2020 election because he was following advice provided by attorneys working for former President Donald Trump, according to a letter sent to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis last week.

If at first you don't succeed... but he's not sounding very contrite.

Former Georgia GOP chair argues against indictment in Trump probe​

Lawyers for Georgia’s former Republican Party chair are again trying to fend off their client’s possible indictment into possible criminal interference with the 2020 presidential election.

Ex-GOP chair David Shafer was within his constitutional rights when he cast an “alternate” Electoral College ballot for then-President Donald Trump and therefore should not be criminally charged, Shafer’s lawyers told Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

The lawyers attached an “expert declaration” from Todd Zywicki, a George Mason University bankruptcy law professor who said he also specializes in laws governing presidential elections and transitions.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Fulton county prosecutors prepare racketeering charges in Trump inquiry​

Exclusive: racketeering charges based on influencing witnesses and computer trespass, sources say

In the Trump investigation, the Fulton county district attorney, Fani Willis, has evidence to pursue a racketeering indictment predicated on statutes related to influencing witnesses and computer trespass, the people said.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Georgia judge rejects Trump’s efforts to toss evidence in Fulton County probe and disqualify district attorney (at this stage in the proceedings)​

McBurney added that, “while being the subject (or even target) of a highly publicized criminal investigation is likely an unwelcome and unpleasant experience, no court ever has held that that status alone provides a basis for the courts to interfere with or halt the investigation.”

“The drumbeat from the District Attorney has been neither partisan (in the political sense) nor personal, in marked and refreshing contrast to the stream of personal invective flowing from one of the movants,” McBurney wrote, in an apparent swipe at the Trump team’s barbed filings regarding Willis.

Trump’s team has also argued that McBurney should be removed from the case, in part because he had not yet ruled on their request to have Willis and the evidence she has collected tossed. A hearing on that matter is currently scheduled before another judge on August 10.

In his ruling, McBurney noted that his decision is coming within the allotted time frame for him to rule and said the effort to remove him from the case should be rendered moot.

 

[Pommer]

Georgia judge rejects Trump’s efforts to toss evidence in Fulton County probe and disqualify district attorney (at this stage in the proceedings)​

McBurney added that, “while being the subject (or even target) of a highly publicized criminal investigation is likely an unwelcome and unpleasant experience, no court ever has held that that status alone provides a basis for the courts to interfere with or halt the investigation.”

“The drumbeat from the District Attorney has been neither partisan (in the political sense) nor personal, in marked and refreshing contrast to the stream of personal invective flowing from one of the movants,” McBurney wrote, in an apparent swipe at the Trump team’s barbed filings regarding Willis.

Trump’s team has also argued that McBurney should be removed from the case, in part because he had not yet ruled on their request to have Willis and the evidence she has collected tossed. A hearing on that matter is currently scheduled before another judge on August 10.

In his ruling, McBurney noted that his decision is coming within the allotted time frame for him to rule and said the effort to remove him from the case should be rendered moot.

The upshot of filing hopeless motions before a court is to be able to point to the reasonable denials of said motions and opine “look, at every turn I am stymied, denied ‘justice’!”

 

[essentialsaltes]

Georgia’s top court rejects Trump attempt to thwart prosecutor in 2020 election investigation​

'If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table.'

Rudy Giuliani Slams Desk in Angry Rant Against Trump Indictment​

 

[essentialsaltes]

Atlanta-area prosecutor expected to seek more than a dozen indictments in Trump case (according to sources familiar)​

The witnesses Willis has subpoenaed when she presents her case [to the grand jury next week] include former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, former Georgia Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan and independent journalist George Chidi. All of them previously testified before a special purpose grand jury that was tasked with investigating the Trump case and heard from more than 75 witnesses.

 

[essentialsaltes]

LIVE UPDATES

Trump indicted in Georgia 2020 election subversion probe​

19 defendants, including Trump, charged in Georgia​

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The co-conspirators charged in the indictment just unsealed include Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Ken Chesebro and Jeffrey Clark.

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98 page indictment

From RICO (Count 1) to Perjury (count 41)

COUNT1 of41
The Grand Jurors aforesaid, in the name and behalf of the citizens of Georgia, do hereby charge and accuse:
DONALD JOHN TRUMP,
RUDOLPH WILLIAM LOUIS GIULIANI,
JOHN CHARLES EASTMAN,
MARK RANDALL MEADOWS,
KENNETH JOHN CI-IESEBRO, J
EFFREY BOSSERT CLARK,
JENNA LYNN ELLIS,
RAY STALLINGS SMITH III,
ROBERT DAVID CHEELEY,
MICHAEL A. ROMAN,
DAVID JAMES SHAFER,
SHAWN MICAH TRESI-IER STILL,
STEPHEN CLIFFGARD LEE,
HARRISON WILLIAM PRESCOTT FLOYD,
TREVIAN C. KUTTI,
SIDNEY KATHERINE POWELL,
CATHLEEN ALSTON LATHAM,
SCOTT GRAHAM HALL, and
MISTY HAMPTON
with the offense of VIOLATION OF TI-IE GEORGIA RICO (RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS) ACT, O.C.G.A. § 16-14-4(c)

Plus "unindicted co-conspirators Individual l through Individual 30,"

MANNER AND METHODS OF THE ENTERPRISE
1. False Statements to and Solicitation of State Legislatures
2. False Statements to and Solicitation of HighRanking State Officials
3. Creation and Distribution of False Electoral College Documents
4. Harassment and Intimidation of Fulton Countv Election Worker Rubv Freeman
5. Solicitation of High-Ranking United States Department of Justice Officials
6. Solicitation of the Vice President of the United States
7._ Unlawful Breach of Election Equipment in Georgia and Elsewhere
8. Obstructive Acts in Furtherance of the Conspiracy and the Cover Up

There follow one hundred and sixty-one acts taken by defendants in this criminal enterprise. And that's all Count 1.