Grand Jury Report on Trump Election Interference to be Partially Released Thursday
On Monday, a judge in Georgia ordered the partial release of a report from a grand jury investigating attempts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.[0] Judge Robert McBurney ruled that the introduction, conclusion and a section discussing the jury's concerns that some witnesses may have lied under oath during their testimony should be released, with the rest of the report withheld for the time being.[1]
McBurney wrote in his eight-page order that, “While publication may not be convenient for the pacing of the District Attorney’s investigation, the compelling public interest in these proceedings and the unquestionable value and importance of transparency require their release.”[2]
The report, which the grand jury submitted earlier this month, includes recommendations for the district attorney's office about possible violations of state law. However, if the prosecutor decides to pursue charges, she would have to seek indictments from a regular grand jury.[0]
The report was commissioned after Trump called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in January 2021 asking him to “find” the exact number of votes needed for Trump to win Georgia.[3] The public release of the recording of this phone call sparked the investigation.
Trump was not one of those who testified to the special grand jury in Georgia, and his lawyers did not intervene in the litigation over releasing the report.[4]
District Attorney Fani Willis of Fulton County stated that her decision on whether to formally charge the previous president with a crime is “imminent” which would make him the first president in US history to be indicted.[5] The repercussion of that decision will be felt throughout the Justice Department's special counsel investigation and other inquiries involving Trump.[5]
The first details of the grand jury’s report are set to be released to the public this Thursday, including the introduction, conclusion and a portion in which the jurors discuss witnesses they believe committed perjury. The identities of the witnesses are not revealed in that part of the report.[3] Willis declared the order to be “legally sound and consistent with my request” and would not challenge it.[6]
The release of the report is highly anticipated, as it will shed light on the alleged attempts to interfere with the 2020 election and provide insight into whether Trump will be indicted.
0. “US judge orders partial release of Georgia’s Trump election probe” Al Jazeera English, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/13/us-judge-orders-partial-release-of-georgias-trump-election-probe
1. “Portions of Georgia grand jury report in 2020 election probe to be released this week, judge rules” ABC News, 13 Feb. 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/US/portions-georgia-grand-jury-report-2020-election-probe/story?id=97082426
2. “Judge orders release of parts of Georgia grand jury report on Trump's post-election conduct” CBS News, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-grand-jury-report-trump-election-interference-fulton-county
3. “Judge to release partial Fulton grand jury report on Trump allies' 2020 election interference” Cobb County Courier, 15 Feb. 2023, https://cobbcountycourier.com/2023/02/judge-to-release-partial-fulton-grand-jury-report-on-trump-allies-2020-election-interference/
4. “Donald Trump Indictment Looms as Georgia Bombshell Set to Drop” Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/trump-georgia-grand-jury-report-indictment-1781410
5. “Trump Charges in Georgia Over 2020 Could Lead to Bigger Fed Case” Bloomberg, 7 Feb. 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-07/trump-charges-in-ga-over-2020-election-could-lead-to-bigger-fed-case
6. “McBurney Orders Partial Release of Fulton County Special Purpose Grand Jury's Final Report” Lawfare, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.lawfareblog.com/mcburney-orders-partial-release-fulton-county-special-purpose-grand-jurys-final-report
