Donald Trump gets hit with a fourth indictment
Image: AP
On Monday night, former President Donald Trump was indicted by a Georgia grand jury over alleged efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state.
A total of 18 other co-defendants were charged alongside Trump, including his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. The case was brought under Georgia’s RICO act, which allows prosecutors to collectively charge a group of people who allegedly committed separate crimes while working towards a common goal.
⚖️ What are the charges against Trump?... Of the 41 total counts, 13 apply specifically to the former president. If convicted on any of them, Trump would face a minimum prison sentence of five years under state law.
- The charges include allegations of racketeering, solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer (x3), making false statements (x2), and filing false documents.
- They also cover allegations of several criminal conspiracies: to commit forgery, to impersonate a public officer, to make false statements (x3), and to file false documents.
The indictment cites dozens of acts by Trump or the other co-defendants to reverse his 2020 election loss in Georgia, including a phone call with GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which Trump urged him to “find” enough votes to overcome the margin of defeat.
Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to the Georgia case, and said he didn’t tamper with the 2020 election. The former president has also framed the latest charges in Georgia as a partisan attack from the Fulton County district attorney, who is a Democrat.
🇺🇸 Zoom out: Trump is now facing a total of 91 felony charges across four separate criminal cases filed since late March. In addition to the Georgia case, the former president is facing allegations that he:
- Facilitated an illegal hush-money payment in New York
- Mishandled classified US government documents after leaving office
- Attempted to subvert the will of US voters by falsely claiming there was enough fraud to overturn the 2020 election result
📊 Flash poll: Do the ongoing criminal cases against Donald Trump impact whether you’ll vote for him in the 2024 primaries or presidential election?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that ultimately, Trump’s fate is in the hands of the American voters – specifically Republicans, who now have a chance to pause and consider the costs of his leadership thus far, and the further damage he could do if rewarded with another four years in power.
- Others contend that the latest set of charges against Trump carry a higher chance of him being convicted than any of the past indictments, since the Georgia case also charges lower-level officials complicit in Trump’s scheme, who are now likely to turn state’s witness.
- “What if, Knowing What They Know Now, Republicans Don’t Vote for Donald Trump?” –NY Times Editorial Board
- “The best argument for the Georgia indictment doesn’t involve Trump” –WaPo Editorial Board
- “Georgia’s indictment of Trump is a legitimate probe of a dangerous demagogue” –LA Times Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that many Republicans are looking at the Trump indictments, and the pass for Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden, and seeing clear signs of partisan prosecutions and double standards.
- Others contend that Georgia prosecutors are overreaching by attempting to charge Trump under RICO laws, since his actions don’t fit the technical definition of such a case.
- “Indictment Four: Trump as Racketeer” –WSJ Editorial Board
- “Fani Willis’s Flawed RICO Charge against Trump” –Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review
- “Latest Trump indictment seeks justice but sure won’t bring any healing” –NY Post Editorial Board
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