Here's Why Georgia Indictment Could Be Most Troublesome For Trump
Faced with hefty felony charges, former President Donald Trump has dug in his heels and vowed that he won’t take a plea deal. The charges stem from his efforts to obtain recounts in Georgia in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. It’s a situation that has many legal experts concerned about the charge’s sheer breadth -- and the fact that since they’re state charges, a Republican president can’t intervene to help him out.
On February 5th, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis handed down a 79-page indictment against Trump and a number of individuals – including attorneys – of the “crime racketeering, criminal solicitation, theft by taking, false statements and false swearing”. All in all, Trump has been accused of working to “obtain, by fraud, false counts in the 2020 presidential election”.
“It’s a dangerous indictment for Donald Trump,” says political analyst John Wiley. “Because it isn’t from the federal government, the charge carries a heavier weight than if it were a federal crime. And if it moves to trial, and Trump is found guilty, he won’t be able to pardon himself. So no matter who is president after 2024, Trump won’t be able to count on any help from the Oval Office.”
The scope of the alleged conspiracy is massive. Indeed, every call, speech, and tweet appears a criminal step in the conspiracy. District Attorney Fani Willis appears to have elected to charge everything and everyone and let God sort them out. https://t.co/T7RzCJbljR
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) August 15, 2023
If a conviction were to take place, Trump could still hope for a gubernatorial pardon. According to Georgia’s laws, however, the petitioners must have completed all their sentences at least 5 years prior to applying. They must also have led a generally law-abiding life since their convictions, and all fines must be paid in full.
“Trump is in a precarious situation,” Wiley adds. “He’s fighting off three indictments from Georgia, one from New York, and two from the federal government. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to predict what the future holds.”
For now, Trump remains determined to fight the charges -- and that means the legal battles are only just beginning. It’s a tense time for the former president -- and it looks like legal proceedings won’t wrap up anytime soon. Trump is facing no fewer than seven possible felony charges, and it’s up to the court to decide his fate.