ATLANTA (AP) — A special grand jury in Atlanta was investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and his allies committed any crimes in an attempt to reverse Georgia’s 2020 presidential election loss has finished its work.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who was overseeing the panel, issued an order Monday to dismiss the special grand jury. The order states that the grand jury completed its final report and a majority of the county superior court judges voted to dissolve the special grand jury.
The conclusion of the special grand jury brought the investigation one step closer to the possibility of criminal charges against Trump and others.
Over the course of about six months, the special grand jury heard testimony from dozens of witnesses, including many close Trump associates and various Georgia officials. It’s one of several incidents across the country that threaten legal peril for the former president aiming for his term.
A special grand jury in Georgia cannot issue an indictment, but instead can issue a final report recommending action to be taken. It is then up to the District Attorney to decide whether to ask a regular grand jury to indict.
Under Georgia law, the grand jury “is empowered to recommend the court to publish all or part of its general statement, and to prescribe the manner of such publication,” and the judge must comply with that recommendation. says it must. A special grand jury voted to recommend releasing the report, McBurney wrote in the order.
“The question of whether the final report of the special purpose grand jury constitutes a submission is open,” the judge wrote, adding that he will hold a hearing on the matter Jan. 24. He said the district attorney’s office and the press would be given an opportunity to discuss the matter at the hearing.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis launched an investigation in early 2021 shortly after recordings of a phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Ravensperger surfaced. In that call, the president suggested that the state’s top election official could “find” the votes needed to overturn Trump’s defeat in the state.
Since then, it’s become clear that Willis is focusing on several different areas. False statements by Trump associates before the Georgia State Legislative Commission. A panel of 16 Republicans signed false certificates that Trump had won the state and that they were “duly elected and eligible” voters of the state. Sudden resignation of Atlanta’s federal attorney in January 2021. Alleged attempt to pressure Fulton County election officials. Violation of election equipment in a rural county in southern Georgia.
Lawyers for former New York City Mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani have confirmed that he was told he could face criminal charges before a special grand jury question in August. 16 fake Republican electors are also said to be under investigation, according to the filing. Others may have been notified that they are also being investigated.
Trump and his allies have consistently denied wrongdoing, with the former president repeatedly calling the call with Raffensperger “perfect” and dismissing the Willis investigation as a “strictly political witch hunt.” .