Georgia special grand jury set to hear from Raffensperger about what led to call where Trump demanded votes
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R-GA) is a key witness to the investigation into possible voter fraud in the state, after it became clear that the White House and allies of Donald Trump were pressing officials to change the outcome of the 2020 election.
The Fulton County district attorney in Georgia has been working with a special grand jury to look into the actions around the 2020 election. A special grand jury, however, doesn't have the power to indict anyone. While they can issue subpoenas, the special grand jury would have to send their findings to a regular grand jury to approve the indictments.
Speaking to CNN on Monday, former federal prosecutor Jennifer Rodgers explained that the special grand jury would likely want to speak to Raffensperger, who hasn't voluntarily appeared. There are also other witnesses who haven't cooperated yet.
"Apparently there are 30 people on the list," said Rodgers. "They will also be looking strongly at [Trump's] state of mind. Anything they can learn about whether then Trump said 'find the votes.' He knew that he had lost the election and needed the votes to overturn the fair election. That's what they'll look at most specifically."
She went on to say that she doesn't anticipate Trump will be subpoenaed in the probe. His conversation with Raffensperger was recorded and released to the press. In the call, the former president demanded that the secretary of state "find 11,780 votes" to overturn the results in Georgia.
"You rarely subpoena the ultimate target of your investigation," Rodgers explained. "He has an obvious Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself. I would expect them to make their case by speaking to everyone around him who will know his state of mind if their conversations."
Just weeks ago, the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol filed a response in court to Mark Meadows' lawsuit resisting their subpoena. Meadows sued the House and the committee, and in response, the committee revealed 26 exhibits including text messages and depositions from key witnesses, including Raffensperger. As part of the clips of his deposition included in the exhibits, the committee revealed that Meadows was relentless in connecting Raffensperger with Trump, but Raffensperger didn't feel it was appropriate and dodged the president's calls multiple times.
At one point, the call between Trump and the secretary of state prompted Raffensperger's aide to text Meadows and encourage him to end the phone call.
Trump facing an 'octopus of an investigation' as Georgia grand jury convenes: former US attorney
On Monday Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will impanel a grand jury to hear evidence that will allege that former President Donald Trump violated state laws when he attempted to interfere in the 2020 presidential election that he still maintains was stolen from him.
Appearing on CNN's "New Day" with host Brianna Keilar, former U.S Attorney Michael Moore explained that jurors, after looking at the evidence and hearing from witnesses, could indict the former president on a number of charges.
According to the former prosecutor, there are so many potential criminal charges, as Trump is now faced with "an octopus of an investigation."
"What exactly this special grand jury is going to be considering and what specific laws will they be looking at to see if Donald Trump broke them?" host Keilar asked.
"The consideration by the special grand jury is really up to them, they have the right to investigate the case, they have the right to issue subpoenas, they have the right to ask questions to dig a little deeper on certain topics if they want to do it," Moore replied. "If you think about it from a general sense, maybe an umbrella under which the investigation will fall. You are really talking about election fraud, a conspiracy to commit election fraud, was there a solicitation to commit election fraud or maybe was there an effort to interfere with the performance of the secretary of state's official duties."
"So those things have tentacles," he continued. "This may become a little bit like an octopus of an investigation. Some evidence may be developed that they decide that they want to pursue a little bit further."
"What penalties could Trump face and what do you think are the odds that he will actually face any?" the CNN host pressed.
"You know, he could face a felony charge, certainly there is some misdemeanors that could be in play here," he answered.
'Trump probably should be concerned' he'll have to testify before Georgia grand jury: former DA
Add the possibility that Donald Trump may have to appear before a Fulton County grand jury to face questioning over his attempts to interfere with the 2020 presidential election to his legal woes, according to a veteran Georgia district attorney.
In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, former Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said the grand jury being impaneled by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to hear evidence against the former president should not be taken lightly.
On CNN Monday morning, former U.S. attorney Michael Moore claimed that Trump could face a multitude of charges, telling "New Day" host Brianna Keilar, "You are really talking about election fraud, a conspiracy to commit election fraud, was there a solicitation to commit election fraud or maybe was there an effort to interfere with the performance of the secretary of state's official duties."
The former president is now confronted by "an octopus of an investigation" that could be far-reaching, he added.
According to former DA Porter, Trump should expect to be summoned to testify on his own behalf.
Calling the formation of a special grand jury a "significant legal step,” Porter added, "I think (Trump) probably should be concerned in that now, instead of just investigators poking around the edges, he’s got a grand jury that can go directly to the heart of it and compel testimony. They may be able to compel his testimony.”
According to the Journal-Constitution, "Unlike regular grand juries, which meet for two-month periods in Fulton County and hear hundreds of different felony cases, special grand juries convene for much longer and focus on a single issue," adding, "This panel is authorized to meet for up to one year, but Willis said it’s possible their work could wrap up sooner."
https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/fulton-prosecutors-to-begin-jury-selection-for-trump-probe/IGCWQKPRVBDWRKNAI7LNQAMHJI/
