The special grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia has concluded its investigation into former President Donald Trump’s election interference and voted to make its report public, Lawfare’s Anna Bower reported Monday.
Having finalized its investigation the jury was dissolved as ordered by state judge Robert McBurney. A hearing will be held on January 24 to determine if the report will be published, according to Bower.
Under Georgia law, a “special purpose” grand jury is tasked with conducting the investigation only and cannot issue indictments based on evidence discovered, only recommend them.
Now, it’s up to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to decide whether to bring indictments against Trump or any of his allies and convene a regular grand jury to hear the facts in the case.
“If the DA chooses to pursue criminal charges, she will need to seek indictments from a regular grand jury,” Bower wrote. “There is nothing in the law that says the DA has to wait for the SPGJ’s report to become public before she presents evidence and seeks indictments from regular grand jury.”
The Fulton County investigation has been probing every aspect of attempts by Trump and his allies to interfere in the election results and certification in the state of Georgia.
Among the issues investigated as part of this probe are calls made by Trump and allies to Georgia election officials, including the former president’s infamous phone call with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger demanding he “find” thousands of extra votes to undo his electoral defeat.
Several of Trump’s allies, including disgraced attorney Rudy Giuliani, former National Security Adviser and QAnon conspiracy theorist Michael Flynn and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, were ordered to testify, and reports indicate that Willis has credible evidence that serious crimes were committed as part of the election plots.
🚨By order of Judge Robert McBurney, the Georgia special purpose grand jury investigating 2020 election interference by Trump and his allies is dissolved. The grand jury voted to make its report public. A hearing will be held on Jan. 24 to determine if it will be published. pic.twitter.com/mMBE7b2nEY
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) January 9, 2023
🚨By order of Judge Robert McBurney, the Georgia special purpose grand jury investigating 2020 election interference by Trump and his allies is dissolved. The grand jury voted to make its report public. A hearing will be held on Jan. 24 to determine if it will be published. pic.twitter.com/mMBE7b2nEY
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) January 9, 2023
