FOCUS: Charles Pierce | The Trump Georgia Investigation Could Be Turning Into a RICO Investigation

 

 

03 June 23

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FOCUS: Charles Pierce | The Trump Georgia Investigation Could Be Turning Into a RICO Investigation
Charles Pierce, Esquire
Pierce writes: "The legal pursuit of El Caudillo del Mar-a-Lago is starting to look like a televised bass-fishing tournament. There's Team Smith in Washington, and Team James in New York, and Team Willis down there in Georgia." 

A multi-state scheme you say?

The legal pursuit of El Caudillo del Mar-a-Lago is starting to look like a televised bass-fishing tournament. There's Team Smith in Washington, and Team James in New York, and Team Willis down there in Georgia. At the moment, Team Smith seems to be in the lead on total weight but, down in Georgia, Team Willis is aiming to land a big one that might just close the gap considerably. From the Washington Post:

In recent days, Willis has sought information related to the Trump campaign hiring two firms to find voter fraud across the United States and then burying their findings when they did not find it, allegations that reach beyond Georgia’s borders, said the two individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the investigation. At least one of the firms has been subpoenaed by Fulton County investigators...

The state’s RICO statute is among the most expansive in the nation, allowing prosecutors to build racketeering cases around violations of both state and federal laws — and even activities in other states. If Willis does allege a multistate racketeering scheme with Trump at its center, the case could test the bounds of the controversial law and make history in the process. The statute calls for penalties of up to 20 years in prison.

Once again, it will do us all good to remember that everything is "unprecedented" until it finally happens. Fani Willis seems to understand this, as does Jack Smith. E. Jean Carroll and her lawyers understood it. The concept of "unprecedented" has been getting quite a workout since 2015 because the country elected a president* of unprecedented personal and financial corruption. But it's hardly a legal defense that crimes are not crimes because nobody else in his position ever thought of committing them before. There are some fat ones still out there in the pond.

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Georgia's investigation in Trump's efforts to overturn the election is expanding to D.C. and other states, according to a report from The Washington Post. (photo: AP)

Signs Are Pointing to Racketeering Charges in Georgia Trump Probe
Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone
Ramirez writes: "The investigation into Donald Trump’s efforts to undermine Georgia's 2020 election results is expanding to include Washington, D.C., and various other states, according to a Friday report from The Washington Post." 

Georgia's investigation in Trump's efforts to overturn the election is expanding to D.C. and other states, according to a report from The Washington Post

The investigation into Donald Trump’s efforts to undermine Georgia’s 2020 election results is expanding to include Washington, D.C., and various other states, according to a Friday report from The Washington Post.

According to sources who spoke to the Post, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is seeking information regarding two firms the Trump campaign contracted to dig up evidence supporting Trump’s false claims of voter fraud throughout the country.

Simpatico Software Systems and Berkeley Research Group, at least one of which Willis’ office has subpoenaed, were unable to find any instance of voting irregularities that would have changed the outcome of the election. As previously reported by the Post, the Trump campaign ultimately hid the firms’ findings from the public.

Earlier this year, Willis’ office hinted that they were considering invoking Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute in the case against Trump. The expansion of the Georgia DA’s probe into Trump’s activities outside of the state boosts theories that Willis will likely include racketeering charges in an indictment, which is expected in August.

Willis is not the only investigator probing potential criminal conduct by the former president in the aftermath of the 2020 election. In Washington, D.C., Special Counsel Jack Smith is conducting dual investigations into Trump’s schemes to overturn his election loss and his hoarding of classified documents following his departure from office.

As Smith’s investigations heat up, sources close to Trump have told Rolling Stone that Trump’s attorneys have been preparing him for what they believe is an almost inevitable indictment.

As Trump juggles a campaign, a looming criminal trial, and the threat of even more legal woes, it’s no surprise the former president is feeling vengeful. As previously reported by Rolling Stone, the former president is already railing to his close advisers about his plans to purge federal law enforcement agencies of individuals who participated in investigations into his conduct.

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