# What happens if Trump is indicted in Georgia? (Indicted on August 14, 2023) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [February 17, 2023, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928 "2023-02-17T03:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2023, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/221 "2023-08-13T21:22:35Z")
And thus @LSLGuy and I confirm that we are in agreement. But, back to the POINT of the thread (deep breaths) I will hold out a certain limited hope. With multiple indictments incoming in Georgia by all indications, they acknowledge the risk of violence, but are preparing for it rather than caving. And while we’ve had a lot of talk and credible threats of action on Trump’s behalf, so far (with the huge exception of J6 and it’s consequences) that is almost all we’re seeing, in fact with _fewer_ lone wolf attacks than I predicted earlier in the year. Even with the predictable efforts of various (R) politicians to ensure the ‘fix is in’ and otherwise neuter these efforts, we are moving, with halting steps, and despite that active obstructionism, in the direction of accountability. It gives me faint hope. And if George moves forward with nothing more than the constitutionally protected right to protest, I will add a few candlelight to my beacon of hope. It’ll still be dim, granted, but, you know, better to light a candle and all. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/222 "2023-08-14T11:56:33Z")
The NY Times has a great, comprehensive article today detailing the Trump team’s extraordinary efforts to overturn the election result in Georgia ([gift link](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/14/us/trump-georgia-election-results.html?unlocked_article_code=rwBDDkiBGK3fFzKixl93B0JxwUWzqBGnJnZrH_IMR4fLLEi6eITbi2YY7I5Oxh-HiaiwcbEMuLh7NsZBzxlSJjtJXO7UrqQWPHrWgaqc6cTT5LA3d4mZEWCPTfxY2-9KDAZZnTj4Kz9E3ZleGUS9AnwOccDLK9tAwU58Wok85EEQNy0r_enzWfTxK5Vb54STUtyuCqvelj3XQaJGO2cP_0XRn-1yXXllotJs4hpE3j4n8M6PO_oM6M9_A8WunCwCOPsMmB2OvTG8QnXEcNiYeWtsJGqIbAtl1BKqZ3ykQgSSDlR4AOs8z5BnFE1dErj5e1CpVYr9zFve6FtYv8Wh181lag&smid=url-share)). It’s a good review of what Fani Willis will be presenting to the grand jury today and tomorrow. It’s well worth it to read the whole thing to remind yourself of the scope of the Trump team’s malfeasance, but my favorite part was this: > While Mr. Trump still pushes his conspiracy theories, some of those who worked for him now reject the claims of rigged voting machines and mysterious ballot-stuffed suitcases. As Mr. Sinners, the Trump campaign official, put it in his testimony to the Jan. 6 committee last summer, “It was just complete hot garbage.” ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/223 "2023-08-14T12:51:38Z")
mr sinners??! that is just brilliant. of course trump would have some one named sinners on his campaign. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/224 "2023-08-14T13:00:07Z")
the grand jury has arrived. the tea leaf readers don’t really expect anything today. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/225 "2023-08-14T16:09:31Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > mr sinners??! that is just brilliant. Oh sinnerman, where you gonna run to? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/226 "2023-08-14T16:50:32Z")
I saw a link to the publicly released parts of the first Georgia grand jury: [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23683579-ga-special-purpose-grand-jury-report](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23683579-ga-special-purpose-grand-jury-report) It seems clear that the great bulk of the original documents have not been publicly released. That said, all that we can see is a recommendation to charge for perjury. So unless we have an indication that Trump was called in to testify to the grand jury, he won’t be on the hook for that particular thing. News reports discuss things like illegal access to voting machines. At the moment, we have no particular reason to believe that those efforts were anything but local. It might not touch Trump or the higher ups. The false electors scheme seems the most likely to bring Trump in. It looks like Eastman was called in to the testify in Georgia but it’s hard to say whether Willis was able to connect it up through to Trump, if the key figures plead the 5th. I’d assume that the Federal government had greater search powers, due to having a wider jurisdiction. I wouldn’t put it as a given that Trump will be charged. It’s very plausible, but it’s also very plausible that he won’t be. But I am sure that it will be a real bad day for at least a few folk that really deserve it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/227 "2023-08-14T17:13:06Z")
Wow! A document was uploaded to the Fulton County court docket which outlined charges against Trump, and then removed… but not before Reuters saw it: > **[Georgia charges Trump, former advisers in 2020 election case](https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-state-georgia-appears-set-file-charges-against-donald-trump-court-document-2023-08-14/)** > > Former U.S. President Donald Trump was hit with a sweeping fourth set of criminal charges on Monday when a Georgia grand jury issued an indictment accusing him of efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. state of Georgia appears set to charge Donald Trump with a variety of charges, including racketeering, conspiracy and false statements, according to a two-page docket report posted to the Fulton County court’s website. > > The Fulton County clerk’s office could not immediately be reached for comment on the docket report, which is no longer available on the court’s website. > > Representatives for the county could not be immediately reached for comment. > > Reporting by Timothy Ahmann; writing Susan Heavey; editing by Rami Ayyub Uhhh… I guess that’s the entire article, lol. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/228 "2023-08-14T17:14:59Z")
Encouraging, then. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/229 "2023-08-14T17:25:44Z")
Speculation on the radio that it could be tomorrow… Ok, more champagne, then. But I’ll not do it for me, but for my country! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/230 "2023-08-14T17:51:06Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > News reports discuss things like illegal access to voting machines. At the moment, we have no particular reason to believe that those efforts were anything but local. It might not touch Trump or the higher ups. Not so, according to CNN. The investigators have evidence indicating that it was a top-down attempt by Trump and his group to gain access to the machines, not simply local: > [@](#): > > Atlanta-area prosecutors investigating efforts to overturn the [2020 election results in Georgia](https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/12/politics/fulton-county-trump-investigation-explainer/index.html) are in possession of text messages and emails directly connecting members of [Donald Trump](https://www.cnn.com/specials/politics/president-donald-trump-45)’s legal team to the early January 2021 voting system breach in Coffee County, sources tell CNN. > > … > > Investigators in the Georgia criminal probe have long suspected the breach was not an organic effort sprung from sympathetic Trump supporters in rural and heavily Republican Coffee County – a county Trump won by nearly 70% of the vote. They have gathered evidence indicating it was a top-down push by Trump’s team to access sensitive voting software, according to people familiar with the situation. > **[Exclusive: Georgia prosecutors have messages showing Trump's team is behind...](https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/08/13/politics/coffee-county-georgia-voting-system-breach-trump/index.html)** > > Atlanta-area prosecutors investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia are in possession of text messages and emails directly connecting members of Donald Trump’s legal team to the early January 2021 voting system breach in... ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/231 "2023-08-14T18:05:31Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > They have gathered evidence indicating it was a top-down push by Trump’s team to access sensitive voting software, according to people familiar with the situation. (from a CNN quote) This is pretty much textbook conspiracy, with a smoking gun of written orders from the top. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/232 "2023-08-14T18:06:05Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > News reports discuss things like illegal access to voting machines. At the moment, we have no particular reason to believe that those efforts were anything but local. It might not touch Trump or the higher ups. As Northern Piper said, this is not true. The company that illegally accessed those machines was hired by Sidney Powell, bringing it directly to Trump’s inner election-denying circle. From the article I posted abpve earlier today: > In a quiet, rural county in the southeastern part of the state, Trump allies gave their mission one more extraordinary try. > A few hours after the certification, a small group working on Mr. Trump’s behalf [traveled to Coffee County,](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/27/us/georgia-trump-coffee-county-election.html) about 200 miles from Atlanta. A lawyer advising Mr. Trump had hired a company called SullivanStrickler to scour voting systems in Georgia and other states for evidence of fraud or miscounts; some of its employees joined several Trump allies on the expedition. > “We scanned every freaking ballot,” Scott Hall, an Atlanta-area Trump supporter and bail bondsman who traveled to Coffee County with employees of the company on Jan. 7, recalled in a [recorded phone conversation](https://www.dropbox.com/s/5iuhdxybkhg1pii/Scott%20Hall%20March%207%2C%202021.m4a?dl=0). Mr. Hall said that with the blessing of the Coffee County elections board, the team had “scanned all the equipment” and “imaged all the hard drives” that had been used on Election Day. Click the first link in that quote box and it will take you to an August 2022 article explicitly naming Powell as the person behind this effort. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/233 "2023-08-14T18:13:30Z")
And remember, once a conspiracy is established, everything done in furtherance of it is the responsibility of every co-conspirator, even if done without their knowledge. In other words, it’s not defense for Trump to say “I didn’t ask them to do that” or “I didn’t know they were doing that.” ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/234 "2023-08-14T18:14:31Z")
Reporting on CNN that today’s grand jury testimony is moving along more quickly than anticipated. One witness who was scheduled for tomorrow has been called to show up today, instead. A reporter for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, i think they said. Along with @JohnT 's reporting above, this is starting to look pretty interesting. ETA An independent journalist. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/235 "2023-08-14T18:35:29Z")
When this goes to court (and I’m sure the Grand Jury is going to send it to court), I wonder how the judge in this case is going to handle attempts to harass witnesses and threaten people associated with the case? Trump has already made threatening noises about the prosecutor, and[just today tried to get a Grand Jury witness to not cooperate.](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4151692-trump-says-former-lt-governor-shouldnt-testify-in-georgia-election-tampering-probe/#:~:text=Former%20President%20Trump%20on%20Monday,the%20Fulton%20County%20Grand%20Jury) I hope whatever judge is assigned to this case stomps down hard and fast on this kind of mob boss behavior. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/236 "2023-08-14T18:43:55Z")
Now CNN is reporting that both of the known witnesses scheduled for tomorrow, the above mentioned reporter and former Georgia Lt. Governor Jeff Duncan, have been called in today instead. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/237 "2023-08-14T19:10:42Z")
msnbc, 25 minutes ago, they are on witness number 5 of 10. it is 3pm, so perhaps just 1 or 2 more for today. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/238 "2023-08-14T20:01:14Z")
Maybe with the Reuters leak they are trying to accelerate the time table so the news doesn’t get too far ahead. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/239 "2023-08-14T20:18:37Z")
oooooh, the tea leaves are shaking. the judge advises “regular business” is over, the court will remain open. the court is open until the da says to close, the judge will stand by incase needed. total and full aquiver. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/240 "2023-08-14T20:20:31Z")
I’m a little behind due to chores. Interesting to hear Andrew Weissman’s analysis re the potential granting of bail to Trump and others – or not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928.md?page=13)