The legal war to keep former President Donald Trump off the 2024 GOP ballot escalated late Monday when Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis indicted him, as expected.
It is Trump’s fourth indictment; he’s been charged in Manhattan by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and he’s been charged in two separate cases by special counsel Jack Smith.
“The charges include violating the Georgia RICO Act — the Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations Act; Solicitation of Violation of Oath by a Public Officer; Conspiracy to Commit Impersonating a Public Officer; Conspiracy to Commit Forgery in the First Degree; Conspiracy to Commit False Statements and Writings; Conspiracy to Commit Filing False Documents; Conspiracy to Commit Forgery in the First Degree; Filing False Documents; and Solicitation of Violation of Oath by a Public Officer,” Fox News reported.
In addition to Trump — who is leading the GOP presidential field by a lot — others formerly in his orbit were also charged: “Former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, attorneys Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro, Jeff Clark, John Eastman, and others,” Fox News noted.
Willis gave Trump and the others until Aug. 25 to surrender to authorities. During a Monday evening press conference, Willis said she would like to see a trial within six months. It would likely take place in heavily Democratic Fulton County, home to Atlanta.
Interestingly, the jail where Trump would likely be booked is under investigation by Joe Biden’s Justice Department for potential civil rights violations, Fox News added:
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is actively investigating the jail where former President Donald Trump may be booked after his arrest in Fulton County.
DOJ opened an investigation into conditions inside the Fulton County Jail last month after an “extensive” review of publicly-available information. That review included a report about LaShawn Thompson, an inmate who died in September 2022 after he was allegedly eaten alive by bugs in his cell, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
An autopsy said Thompson died of complications due to severe neglect and major contributing causes as untreated schizophrenia, dehydration, malnourishment and severe body insect infestation. His death was ruled a homicide.
“These autopsy findings confirm that Lashawn was killed by the extreme neglect of the Fulton County Jail and its staff,” Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing Thompson’s family in a lawsuit against the jail, said in a May 22 statement. “He was dehydrated, malnourished, and his body was infested inside and out with insects — it is truly one of the most horrific cases we have seen.”
Fox reported that the state of the jail may complicate negotiations between the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Secret Service regarding the manner in which Trump will be booked.
“According to the department’s website, individuals who have been arrested are first taken to the Main Jail at 901 Rice Street NW, Atlanta, for booking. Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said earlier this month he expects Trump to be booked like any other criminal suspect, including fingerprinting and photographing,” Fox noted.
