# 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:** 20
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/381 "2023-08-15T03:42:15Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Here’s a gift link to the text of the full indictment posted on the New York Times website: Thank you for that, although IANAL in spades for interpreting what it says. Why are the grand jurors named? Talk about exposing them to a risk of MAGAt infestation. ---
**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 15, 2023, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/382 "2023-08-15T03:43:34Z")
Ga law. Hopefully they were all given security. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/383 "2023-08-15T03:44:23Z")
Very carefully chosen words, and definitely following the scripted speech. Plus, racketeering charges. Now, stuff is getting serious. Trump is going to need yet more ketchup. Looking at defendants to voluntarily surrender by Friday, August 25. Otherwise, I assume, arrest warrants will be issued. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/384 "2023-08-15T03:44:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > even if they used a ball gag and two rolls of Gorilla Tape. I am enjoying that image… ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/385 "2023-08-15T03:45:13Z")
**From the New York Times link above:** _Prosecutors put together a racketeering indictment like this one by collecting individual actions known as “overt acts” that are said to further the goal of the larger conspiracy. On its own, each overt act may or not be a separate crime. But when they are all considered together, the overt acts can help prosecutors tell a detailed story of how many steps went into a complex crime…_ _….The indictment spells out 161 separate acts that prosecutors say were taken to further the alleged criminal conspiracy, including events like Rudy Giuliani’s false testimony about election fraud to Georgia lawmakers in early December and President Donald Trump’s telephone call in 2020 to the Georgia secretary of state in early January to urge him to “find” about 12,000 votes…_ _…The majority of the [pro-Trump Republican electors who met and submitted bogus Electoral College votes] were known to have taken immunity deals. The three electors charged in the indictment are David Shafer, the former chair of the state Republican Party; State Senator Shawn Still; and Cathy Latham, who was the head of the Coffee County Republican Party at the time. Mr. Shafer presided over the December 2020 meeting of the bogus electors and Mr. Still served as secretary for the meeting…_ **The district attorney is seeking a “trial date within the next six months.”** **Willis says the defendants have until “no later than noon on Friday 25th” to voluntarily surrender.** ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/386 "2023-08-15T03:49:01Z")
Paraphrased, because I cannot type very fast: Reporter: Is this politically motivated against Trump? Willis: No. We go by facts and law. We’ve prosecuted around 12,000 cases during my tenure. Only 11 have been RICO-related. Always on facts and law. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/387 "2023-08-15T03:49:57Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > Here we go! > > Noon Friday is the surrender time limit. > > Limited questions and then sleep for ms Willis. > > And done. Friday August 25th is the surrender date, not this week. ---
**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 15, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/388 "2023-08-15T03:51:01Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > Here is an article. Thanks. Interesting read. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/389 "2023-08-15T03:51:14Z")
I’ll just note that Trump, Giuliani, Eastman, Meadows, Powell, and quite a few others were indicted for racketeering under RICO. This was the news I was particularly anxious to hear. Conviction is another matter, but it carries a penalty of 5 to 20 years in prison. I’m not sure if 5 years is a mandatory minimum or if a judge has discretion to suspend a sentence, but this being Georgia, likely not. A bit of an overview here: > **[Why Georgia's RICO law could be key in the state's case against Trump](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/why-georgias-rico-law-could-be-key-in-the-states-case-against-trump)** > > Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is widely expected to use Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, law to charge Trump and his associates for allegedly participating in a wide-ranging conspiracy to overturn the... ---
**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 15, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/390 "2023-08-15T03:51:16Z")
Trial in 6 months and all 19 at once, she has 11 rico cases in her time as da. I hope they have big courtrooms. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/391 "2023-08-15T03:52:02Z")
Van Jones on CNN: “She didn’t throw the book at him. She threw the library.” ---
**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 15, 2023, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/392 "2023-08-15T03:52:18Z")
Thank you, I am a bit calendar challenged. Love the library. ---
**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 15, 2023, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/393 "2023-08-15T03:52:58Z")
Logistics in a case like this are a nightmare. I predict at least some of those are going to engage in plea negotiations, others may be carved out into separate trials. They’ll manage. ---
**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 15, 2023, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/394 "2023-08-15T03:55:00Z")
Yes, and some only have a handful of charges. I believe she was just saying they are ready to go. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/395 "2023-08-15T03:58:09Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Van Jones on CNN: “She didn’t throw the book at him. She threw the library.” Given the reputed state of modern American libraries, looks like she threw the Library of Alexandria. Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/396 "2023-08-15T04:00:40Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I predict at least some of those are going to engage in plea negotiations, others may be carved out into separate trials. Still, I’m picturing something looking like the Nuremburg trials. ---
**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 15, 2023, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/397 "2023-08-15T04:04:47Z")
I’ve worked on trials with 6 defendants in a cramped courtroom. It’s not fun. I recall another trial (not in my judge’s courtroom) that accommodated 12 defendants. They moved the “courtroom” to a large facility that could accommodate all the players. It wasn’t that big of a deal. Courts can hold their proceedings in all kinds of places. ---
**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 15, 2023, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/398 "2023-08-15T04:07:28Z")
Is this the last of it? Or are there other states looking at mr trump? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/399 "2023-08-15T04:09:11Z")
Is it wrong these remind me of terrible music videos from 1990? RICO. Suave. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o8_f3kJOX_8/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHeAoAChgKKAgwIABABGGUgUChEMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDG4RtL8ZL08js8FRX8NDwdXR2Rhw "gerardo - rico suave") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8_f3kJOX_8) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/400 "2023-08-15T04:10:31Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I recall another trial (not in my judge’s courtroom) that accommodated 12 defendants. They moved the “courtroom” to a large facility that could accommodate all the players. It wasn’t that big of a deal. Courts can hold their proceedings in all kinds of places. I cannot speak for the state of Georgia, but we did have a poster here for a number of years who was a lawyer in the province of Ontario. Northern Ontario specifically, which is sparsely populated. Occasionally, he’d mention flying into a remote community (no roads led there), and court would be convened in whatever space was available: a schoolroom, a gym, a community hall, and the like. Point is, that as long as you have the players (judge, clerks, prosecutor, defense, etc) you can convene a court anywhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928.md?page=21)