Updated
On August 14th, 2023, former President Donald Trump and 18 others were indicted on state charges in Georgia stemming from their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state1. The indictment was unsealed by an Atlanta-based grand jury and is the fourth criminal case that Trump is facing1.
According to the indictment, Trump and others “joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome” of the election and “unlawfully conspired and endeavored to conduct and participate in a criminal enterprise” after Trump lost the election in Georgia1. The charges were brought as part of a sweeping investigation led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis1.
The indictment covers some of the most egregious efforts by Trump’s allies to meddle in the 2020 presidential election. Unlike the election subversion charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith, Willis’ case will be insulated from any Trump meddling if he is reelected in 2024; he will not be able to pardon himself or his allies of any state law convictions, nor will he be able to dismiss the Fulton County prosecutors bringing the charges1.
The 41-count indictment includes charges against Trump’s former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, his former personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and several so-called false electors2. According to the charges brought by District Attorney Fani Willis, Trump was the head of a “criminal enterprise” aimed at corrupting the results of the 2020 election2. Trump supervised a vast scheme to derail the transfer of power to Joe Biden, prosecutors say, accusing Trump of orchestrating several distinct—and illegal—efforts to remain in office2.
Willis’ case against Trump portrays Giuliani as his closest associate in multiple facets of the scheme. Giuliani oversaw Trump’s effort to lobby state legislatures to reverse the outcome of the election. In mid-November 2020, Giuliani, along with several other Trump lawyers (also charged in the indictment), held a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters to claim ballot fraud in Georgia and other states. Giuliani subsequently visited state Capitols and sought to rally GOP lawmakers to embrace unfounded claims of fraud2.
All 19 co-defendants must surrender by August 25 at noon, according to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis1. This is a developing story and more information is likely to emerge in the coming days and weeks.