What Georgia Special Grand Jury Report Will Reveal About Indicting Trump

What Georgia Special Grand Jury Report Will Reveal About Indicting Trump

Portions of the report compiled by a Georgia special grand jury that investigated former President Donald Trump’s efforts to alter state election results in 2020 are set to be revealed this week.

Despite prosecutors’ appeals to keep the study private until they decide on charges, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said on Monday that he was ordering three sections of the report to be public on Thursday.

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As part of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ investigation, the special grand jury spent roughly seven months hearing evidence from 75 witnesses, including Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, Senator Lindsey Graham, and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Her inquiry began two years ago, following the publication of an hour-long phone call in which Trump urged Raffensperger to “find” over 11,000 ballots in order to reverse the results.

According to the article, special grand juries in Georgia are not permitted to make changes, but Willis can appoint a standard grand jury, which does have the authority to indict.

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Willis said at a hearing last month that  “for future defendants to be treated fairly, it is not appropriate at this time to have this report released.”

While the publication of the report “may not be convenient” for the timing of Willis’ inquiry, McBurney stated that “the strong public interest” and “unquestionable value and necessity of openness” demand the release of three sections of the final report.

The three sections are the introduction, the conclusion, and Section VIII, in which jurors voiced worry that some of the witnesses may have lied under oath when testifying before the special grand jury.

Read more: What Georgia Special Grand Jury Report Will Reveal About Indicting Trump

In the order, the judge said: “Because the grand jury does not identify those witnesses, that conclusion may be publicly disclosed at this time.”

Some sections of the report, such as those in which jurors made suggestions regarding potential charges, will not be made public. But it’s unclear whether Trump or his associates were recommended for indictment.

But, retired federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek that he believes the study would recommend prosecution.

Rahmani said, “There is plenty of evidence to support charges, and the grand jury heard a one-sided presentation of the evidence with no defense witnesses or arguments”

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Nevertheless, if a standard grand jury does not reach the same conclusions, it would likely be “the end of the road for prospective charges against Trump linked to the 2020 election,” according to Rahmani.