Why Georgia DA’s 'methodical' probe is 'especially damning and threatening' for Trump: report

26 July 2023

Between a 37-count federal indictment and a 34-count indictment in New York State, Donald Trump is facing 71 criminal counts altogether — a first in U.S. history for a former president. And that number may increase if two investigations of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results lead to indictments; one of the two probes is being conducted by special counsel Jack Smith for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), while the other is being led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for the State of Georgia.

A DOJ target letter Trump received indicates that an indictment is likely in Smith's probe. And according to reports, sources close to Willis anticipate an indictment in Georgia sometime in August. It's entirely possible that Trump will be facing four criminal indictments before the summer is over.

In an article published on July 26, the Daily Beast's Jose Pagliery lays out some reasons why Willis' case could be the most difficult for Trump if, as expected, it leads to an indictment.

"While any of the charges against Trump could land him in jail," Pagliery explains, "the Atlanta case is especially damning and threatening. The basic facts are hard to dispute. Trump tried to pressure the state's top elections official to 'find 11,780' votes to flip the results on a recorded phone call. His campaign recruited fake electors who signed off on a failed bid to eventually replace real ones in Congress. And local Republicans snuck into a county elections office to tamper with voting equipment, as first uncovered by The Daily Beast."

The Daily Beast reporter notes that according to The Guardian's sources, Willis' office has been putting together a racketeering case against Trump along with a case for solicitation for election fraud.

"The anticipated indictment has Atlanta on pins and needles, with current and former local politicians whispering rumors about when the big news will come," Pagliery observes. "The Fulton County grand jury is expected to vote on criminal charges the first or second week of August, depending on whom you ask. The DA hinted at the same in May when she outlined a plan to have 70 percent of her staff work remotely while grand juries are in session during the first half of August."

Pagliery adds, "According to The New York Times, she also requested that judges schedule no trials or in-person hearings for the weeks starting August 7 and August 14 — a shocking halt of regular court business for the eighth-largest metro area in the country."

Willis' friends are known for giving her turtle figures, as the turtle is one of her favorite animals. The prosecutor told the Wall Street Journal that she admires the fact that turtles, although slow, are "methodical" and get the job done right. And Willis has been careful not to rush her Trump investigation.

Former Fulton County Chairman John H. Eaves told the Beast, "For the most part, Fani's team has kept things close to the chest. It speaks to their professionalism. This is the major leagues; this is not a prosecution of a local felon. This is the prosecution of a former president. You need to make sure the t's are crossed and i's are dotted."

Eaves added, "Her personal reputation is at stake. You don't want to mess this thing up."

Read the Daily Beast's full report at this link (subscription required).

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