While many of us were focused on the second impeachment of former President Trump, news broke that the Fulton County District Attorney has initiated a criminal investigation into the multiple contacts by Trump and others in the aftermath of the Georgia Presidential election. This post is an update to our previous analysis of Donald Trump’s potential post-Presidential criminal consequences in Georgia.
On Wednesday, February 10, the New York Times reported that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sent a letter to multiple Georgia state officials notifying them that Willis had “opened an investigation into attempts to influence the administration of the 2020 Georgia General Election”:
“This investigation includes, but is not limited to, potential violations of Georgia law prohibiting the solicitation of election fraud, the making of false statements to state and local governmental bodies, conspiracy, racketeering, violation of oath of office and any involvement in violence or threats related to the election’s administration.”
An anonymous Georgia official told the New York Times that the inquiry will encompass multiple contacts with the state, including Mr. Trump’s calls to Governor Kemp and Secretary of State Raffensperger, as well as “the events surrounding the abrupt resignation” of Byung J. Pak.
On Friday, February 12, the Washington Post reported that the investigation will also “scrutinize” Senator Lindsey Graham’s November 13 phone call to Raffensperger.
According to Willis’s letter, the District Attorney’s office anticipates that it will “begin requesting grand jury subpoenas as necessary” in March.