A document briefly posted on the official Fulton County, Georgia court website on Monday showed a list of potential felony charges against former President Donald Trump, after being downloaded by Reuters shortly before the court took the document back down without explanation. The document matched the charges that the grand jury brought later that day against Trump and 18 associates for trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat.
Court clerk says document was a test sample
The Fulton County court clerk on Tuesday acknowledged the release of the document on its website and said it was a test sample that was not meant to be public. The statement said the system was being tested before the grand jury voted on whether to indict Trump on charges of trying to overturn his election defeat.
“While it may have appeared that something official had occurred because the document bore a case number and filing date, it did not include a signed ‘true’ or ‘no’ bill nor an official stamp with Clerk Alexander’s name, thereby making the document unofficial and a test sample only,” the statement said.
The court had released a statement on Monday saying a media outlet had obtained a “fictitious” document. However, Reuters reported that the 13 felony charges listed on the document matched those brought by the grand jury later on Monday.
Trump faces charges under racketeering law
The Georgia grand jury used a law developed to take down organized crime gangs to charge Republican Trump for trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden. The charges, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, accuse Trump and 18 associates of violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
The indictment alleges that Trump and his associates engaged in a “pattern of racketeering activity” that included soliciting false election results, making false statements, threatening election officials and voters, and obstructing justice. The indictment also accuses Trump of inciting violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, when his supporters stormed the building in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying Biden’s victory.
The indictment is the first criminal case against Trump in Georgia, where he faces several investigations into his attempts to pressure state officials to overturn his loss. Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that he won the election and that it was rigged by widespread fraud.
Trump denies wrongdoing and calls charges politically motivated
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and called the charges politically motivated. He issued a statement on Monday blasting Willis as a “partisan Democrat prosecutor” who is “using her office to settle political scores.”
Trump also said he would “fight these false charges” and vowed to “continue our fight to Make America Great Again.” He accused Willis of trying to interfere with his potential run for president in 2024, which he has not officially announced but has hinted at.
Trump’s lawyers have not yet responded to the indictment, which was filed in Fulton County Superior Court. The court has not yet scheduled a date for Trump’s arraignment, where he would be formally charged and enter a plea.
Legal experts say RICO charges are rare and difficult to prove
Legal experts say RICO charges are rare and difficult to prove in political cases, as they require showing a clear link between the alleged criminal acts and the goals of the enterprise. They also say that Trump could invoke his First Amendment rights to free speech and petition as a defense against some of the charges.
However, some experts also say that Willis has a strong case based on the evidence she has gathered, which includes phone calls, emails, text messages, social media posts, and witness testimony. They say that Willis could use RICO as a powerful tool to hold Trump accountable for his actions and deter future attempts to undermine democracy.
Willis has said that she is pursuing justice for Georgians who were harmed by Trump’s conduct. She has also said that she is not afraid of Trump’s political influence or legal challenges.
