# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/441 "2023-08-15T13:12:45Z")
So glad they named Rudy. Just hope they lay some plastic on the floor so that his dripping hair dye doesn’t stain. A little disappointed that Graham wasn’t indicted but I trust this DA is only indicting that which she thinks she can convict, perhaps Graham’s role was minimal. As for the unknowns on the list, sucks to be them. Are they little guys who got starstruck and let themselves be pawns in this crooked game? ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/442 "2023-08-15T13:15:07Z")
I heard on NPR this morning that some law professor was saying that this may be moved to Federal Jurisdiction. That the Defendants would likely file motions to do just that. Anybody else saying that? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/443 "2023-08-15T13:19:02Z")
_The MAGA went down to Georgia, he was lookin’ for a vote to steal_ _He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind_ _And he was willin’ to make a deal_ _When he came across this young man in an office writin’ notes_ _And Trump jumped up on a hickory stump_ _And said, “boy, you find me some votes”_ ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/444 "2023-08-15T13:23:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Court orders or no court orders, they won’t be able to shut Trump up now, even if they used a ball gag and two rolls of Gorilla Tape. Why not? If a judge says he can’t say (or do) something and he says (or does) it, seems like it should be cut and dried. Lock him up. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/445 "2023-08-15T13:25:07Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > oh, what a night! > the ides of august in '23 > a very special night for us > what an indictment, > what a night! Were you foreshadowing this about a hundred posts ago? 'Cause it worked. > [@rocking\_chair](#): > > Wow, oh what a night. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/446 "2023-08-15T13:26:11Z")
Please confirm for me, even if Trump is imprisoned he could still be president? Is that correct? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/447 "2023-08-15T13:29:08Z")
Is it law, or is it tradition that says he gets Secret Service Protection while in jail? ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/448 "2023-08-15T13:34:59Z")
And does the RICO aspect make this federal? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/449 "2023-08-15T13:34:59Z")
No rule against it. And Eugene Debs is the precedent for a campaign from prison. That said, if Trump the convicted felon gets elected to be President while serving time, it’s a sign the country is pretty much over. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/450 "2023-08-15T13:36:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Is it law, or is it tradition that says he gets Secret Service Protection while in jail? Wiki has: > ### Secret Service protection > > From 1965 to 1996, former presidents were entitled to lifetime [Secret Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secret_Service) protection, for themselves, spouses, and children under 16. A 1994 statute, [Pub. L.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Law_(United_States)) [103–329](https://uslaw.link/citation/us-law/public/103/329), limited post-presidential protection to ten years for presidents inaugurated after January 1, 1997.[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Former_Presidents_Act#cite_note-8) Under this statute, [Bill Clinton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton) would still be entitled to lifetime protection, and all subsequent presidents would have been entitled to ten years of protection.[[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Former_Presidents_Act#cite_note-9) On January 10, 2013, President [Barack Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama) signed the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012, reinstating lifetime Secret Service protection for his predecessor [George W. Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush), himself, and all subsequent presidents.[[10]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Former_Presidents_Act#cite_note-10) > > [Richard Nixon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon) relinquished his Secret Service protection in 1985, the only president to do so.[[11]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Former_Presidents_Act#cite_note-11) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/451 "2023-08-15T13:37:21Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > And does the RICO aspect make this federal? The charges were for a violation of the _Georgia_ RICO law. My understanding is that that would not, necessarily, make it federal. ---
**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 15, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/452 "2023-08-15T13:39:57Z")
Gift link. A tidy summary of all the people indicted, who they are, and what they’re charged with. There seems to be a selection of false electors, several people who harassed Ruby Freeman and her daughter, the Coffee County bozos, and the bigger election shenanigans perpetrators. > **[Here’s who else was charged in Georgia (other than Trump)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/15/georgia-indictment-charges/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjkyMDcyMDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjkzNDU0Mzk5LCJpYXQiOjE2OTIwNzIwMDAsImp0aSI6ImM5M2YwNmZlLTUyNTYtNDhiNi05YjYxLTA1YzYxM2U1OTk5MyIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9uYXRpb25hbC1zZWN1cml0eS8yMDIzLzA4LzE1L2dlb3JnaWEtaW5kaWN0bWVudC1jaGFyZ2VzLyJ9.sknosddSp4Op3y0wp2pkxXPtfc-QmBdVmxsBLRr0Z9I&itid=gfta)** > > Atlanta-area prosecutors allege that a large network of people helped Donald Trump try to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/453 "2023-08-15T13:40:43Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The charges were for a violation of the _Georgia_ RICO law. My understanding is that that would not, necessarily, make it federal. The reason I’m asking is that one of my coworkers (we’re in Canada) was saying that this makes it federal. However that pans out would obviously have an impact on whether or not he could pardon himself if elected. ---
**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, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/454 "2023-08-15T13:51:32Z")
that is when the earworm started. then i realized it was the ides of august. i’m working on dance moves. trump has already lost a move to federal court thing in i believe ny. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/455 "2023-08-15T13:52:39Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > So glad they named Rudy. Just hope they lay some plastic on the floor so that his dripping hair dye doesn’t stain. A little disappointed that Graham wasn’t indicted but I trust this DA is only indicting that which she thinks she can convict, perhaps Graham’s role was minimal. As for the unknowns on the list, sucks to be them. Are they little guys who got starstruck and let themselves be pawns in this crooked game? Sort of. Some were involved in the fake electors scheme, some in a scheme to illegally access voting machines in a rural county, and some were involved in a scheme to trick election worker Ruby Freeman into confessing, or something like that. I think the last incident was previously unreported so I’m not sure of the details. The “Blacks For Trump” guy was one of the ones indicted in that scheme. ---
**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 15, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/456 "2023-08-15T14:06:30Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > I heard on NPR this morning that some law professor was saying that this may be moved to Federal Jurisdiction. That the Defendants would likely file motions to do just that. Anybody else saying that? They were talking about that on CNN last night. A couple of thoughts. First, removal of criminal cases is exceedingly rare. So rare, in fact, that despite going to law school, studying for the bar, and practicing criminal law in state and federal courts for a number of years, I had never even heard of such of thing. When they mentioned in after the NY indictment I had to look it up. And, yes, it can be done. It’s 28 USC 1455, if anyone’s interested. However, I don’t see these charges providing a basis for removal to federal court. The grounds for granting such a motion are limited (and apparently they look like they were designed to protect individuals from racist state prosecutions) > Any of the following civil actions or criminal prosecutions, commenced in a [State court](https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=28-USC-1383817500-1054448232&term_occur=999&term_src=title:28:part:IV:chapter:89:section:1443) may be removed by the defendant to the district court of the United[States](https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=28-USC-80204913-1054448233&term_occur=999&term_src=title:28:part:IV:chapter:89:section:1443)for the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending: > > (1) > > Against any person who is denied or cannot enforce in the courts of such [State](https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=28-USC-80204913-1054448233&term_occur=999&term_src=) a right under any law providing for the equal civil rights of citizens of the United [States](https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=28-USC-80204913-1054448233&term_occur=999&term_src=), or of all persons within the jurisdiction thereof; > > (2) > > For any act under color of authority derived from any law providing for equal rights, or for refusing to do any act on the ground that it would be inconsistent with such law. ETA: Here’s a federal district court decision that describes how this statute is applied. It shouldn’t apply to Trump’s case. I guess we’ll find out > **[USCOURTS-alsd-1\_14-cv-00434-0.pdf](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-alsd-1_14-cv-00434/pdf/USCOURTS-alsd-1_14-cv-00434-0.pdf)** > > 240.96 KB ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/457 "2023-08-15T14:18:14Z")
Georgia’s RICO law is apparently notoriously expansive, compared to similar laws in other states or the federal level > **[The Controversial Legal Strategy Behind the Indictment of Young Thug](https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-south/the-controversial-legal-strategy-behind-the-indictment-of-young-thug)** > > The RICO Act, which was designed to go after the Mafia, is now used to target supposed members of predominantly Black street gangs. Critics say the law is being stretched very thin. ---
**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 15, 2023, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/458 "2023-08-15T14:23:41Z")
Turns out Trump is innocent. We’ll see a report in [less than] two weeks. > “A Large, Complex, Detailed but Irrefutable REPORT on the Presidential Election Fraud which took place in Georgia is almost complete & will be presented by me at a major News Conference at 11:00 A.M. on Monday of next week in Bedminster, New Jersey. Based on the results of this CONCLUSIVE Report, all charges should be dropped against me & others - There will be a complete EXONERATION! They never went after those that Rigged the Election. They only went after those that fought to find the RIGGERS!” Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social. Of course it’s complete bullshit. And, as many have pointed out repeatedly here and elsewhere, even if it was all true, he doesn’t get to commit crimes as a result. As Willis said last night, Georgia has a procedure to challenge election problems. Forming a criminal enterprise isn’t one of them. > “Georgia, like every state, has laws that allow those who believe that results of the election are wrong, whether because of intentional wrongdoing or unintentional error to challenge those results in state courts,” Willis said. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/459 "2023-08-15T14:28:22Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > We’ll see a report in [less than] two weeks. Right after Trump’s infrastructure bill is submitted to Congress ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/460 "2023-08-15T14:36:35Z")
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