ATLANTA — Former President Donald Trump and his top allies were indicted on felony charges in his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
Along with Trump, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and his former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows were charged. Other key names include Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, Ray Smith, and several others.
All were charged with violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act.
“The Defendants, as well as others not named as defendants, unlawfully conspired and endeavored to conduct and participate in a criminal enterprise in Fulton County, Georgia, and elsewhere,” the indictment says.
The news of an indictment came after the grand jury in Fulton County stayed later than usual to vote. The indictment was given to the judge at 9 p.m. and made public two hours later. Trump was charged with felony racketeering and several other conspiracy charges.
“Trump and the other defendants charged in this indictment refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump,” the indictment adds.
According to Georgia state law, the racketeering charge would carry a sentence of five to 20 years in prison.
Trump has denied all wrongdoing as did Giuliani hours before the indictment was announced.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said she intends to try all 19 defendants together.
Willis added arrest warrants have been issued for all of the defendants and each has until August 25th at noon to surrender.
The indictment also lists 19 unindicted co-conspirators, including 13 who are listed as having allegedly participated in the fake elector scheme. A number of those fake electors struck immunity deals with Willis, according to court filings.
“The false documents were intended to disrupt and delay the joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021, in order to unlawfully change the outcome of the November 3, 2020, presidential election in favor of Donald Trump,” the indictment said.
The indictment says “several” of the defendants made false statements to Georgia officials, violating their oaths to the Georgia Constitution and to the United States Constitution.
