# 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:** 42
**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 22, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/821 "2023-08-22T23:11:22Z")
Trump is really butthurt about having to post an appearance bond, and he’s thinking about his old buddy Vlad. [[Album] Imgur: The magic of the Internet ![](https://i.imgur.com/R6G3I5X.png?fb "Imgur: The magic of the Internet") ](https://imgur.com/a/imw7bc7) ---
**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 22, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/822 "2023-08-22T23:20:15Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > He doesn’t have a drivers license? Holy crap, I actually found his license, to follow up from my previous post. Here is an article about it. > **[Trump's driver's license casts doubt on height claims](https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-drivers-license-height-232948)** > > A special edition of Time published earlier this year profiling Trump also listed him at 6-foot-3 while noting “it irritates him that so many media outlets say 6-foot-2.” So he had a license issued in 2012 that was set to expire in 2020. That would mean that he was licensed to drive in the video clip I linked to before. My assumption is that he did not renew his license in 2020. Apparently, presidents and ex-presidents are not allowed to drive. That is one of the stipulations of the 1958 Former Presidents Act. Now, I don’t actually see that language in the act itself, but I see multiple news outlets reporting it as fact that presidents can’t drive, and multiple interviews with presidents who confirm that fact. So, once Trump was inaugurated he would no longer have been allowed to operate a vehicle himself on a public road, and in 2020 his license would have expired. Sadly, even though we have a photo of his most recent license, much of it is redacted. If his weight was listed there, we can’t see it. We do see that his height is listed as 6’2" (even though he claims he is 6’3", not sure why that inch matters, he’s fairly tall either way). [![](https://www.politico.com/dims4/default/dda65cf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/779x423+0+0/resize/630x342!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.politico.com%2F6d%2Fe3%2Fbdd4948d4427bd72d6d9ad68370c%2Ftrump-license-screenshot.jpg) ](https://www.politico.com/dims4/default/dda65cf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/779x423+0+0/resize/630x342!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.politico.com%2F6d%2Fe3%2Fbdd4948d4427bd72d6d9ad68370c%2Ftrump-license-screenshot.jpg) ---
**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 22, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/823 "2023-08-22T23:23:50Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Trump is really butthurt about having to post an appearance bond, and he’s thinking about his old buddy Vlad. > > [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](https://imgur.com/a/imw7bc7) Hafta admit, that’s actually pretty funny (once you get past the shit about Willis). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/824 "2023-08-22T23:51:31Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Apparently, presidents and ex-presidents are not allowed to drive. That is one of the stipulations of the 1958 Former Presidents Act. Now, I don’t actually see that language in the act itself, but I see multiple news outlets reporting it as fact that presidents can’t drive, and multiple interviews with presidents who confirm that fact. Same here. I’d like to see the text. ---
**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 22, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/825 "2023-08-22T23:53:34Z")
Moderating: Once again, we’re getting very far afield. Let’s please drop discussion in this thread pertaining to the strictures against a president driving and Donald Trump’s weight. Thanks. ---
**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 23, 2023, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/826 "2023-08-23T00:09:05Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@Procrustus](#): > > > > Their would be a felony warrant out for their arrest, and any law enforcement officer in the country could execute it if they happened upon one of the fugitives. > > Thank you. > > Some rookie cop forcibly arresting Mark Meadows on a random sidewalk in the middle of the day would be the best YouTube video ever. Oh! Oh! Oh! Please! On bodycam, with service weapon drawn and the cop shouting, “Kiss the pavement, Scumbag!” twice. Then the cop trips him, knocking him down while shouting, “Quit resisting! Quit resisting!” Then a kick, or two, in the lower back, for resisting, you know, and to make sure he is no longer a threat (and because stomping on his head would be an excessive use of force, doncha think?). A boy can dream, can’t he? ---
**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 23, 2023, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/827 "2023-08-23T00:20:59Z")
Speaking to the efforts to remove Fani Willis, the legislation makes it ‘legal’ for various flavors of legal. But if someone were to come forward with evidence (unlikely but possible) that the sole purpose of the legislation was to aid Trump in avoiding justice, would that be actionable? IANAL but feels like corrupt intent. But again, it was passed all nice and legal. Scummy, but legal. Can any of our legal eagles elucidate? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/828 "2023-08-23T00:43:59Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Does the state legislature in Georgia have the power normally to impeach and remove a county official? (I’m aware of the bill recently passed that creates a commission to review prosecutors; I’m asking if the state legislature has a more general power to impeach and remove a county official.) The same occurred to me. The thought that a local elected official serves at the pleasure of the state legislature _really_ doesn’t sit well with me. ---
**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 23, 2023, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/829 "2023-08-23T00:47:14Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The thought that a local elected official serves at the pleasure of the state legislature _really_ doesn’t sit well with me. As I recall, isn’t there a member of the legislature indicted in the GA fake elector scheme? Firing the prosecutor who is going after a member seems doubly wrong. (the whole idea is wrong, but this would be ridiculous) ETA: Yep, I was right > Georgia state Sen. Shawn Still – who allegedly served as a fake elector for former President Donald Trump in 2020 and was charged in last week’s sweeping election interference indictment out of Fulton County – reached a $10,000 bond agreement on Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/830 "2023-08-23T00:56:03Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Speaking to the efforts to remove Fani Willis, the legislation makes it ‘legal’ for various flavors of legal. But if someone were to come forward with evidence (unlikely but possible) that the sole purpose of the legislation was to aid Trump in avoiding justice, would that be actionable? I can’t answer that, but I’m sure the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission was not put in place to protect Trump. It is a response to loads of right wing media articles about allegedly soft on crime prosecutors like Larry Krasner in Philadelphia and some they see as comparable in Georgia, including the progressive prosecutor Willis defeated to gain her present position. I’ve been googling Stacey Jackson, the appointed head of the Qualifications Commission, and I can’t find any evidence of him being a Trumper, or anything other than the minimal kind of Republican you need to be to have a chance as a local politico in most of Georgia. For example: > **[Sunday Interview with Stacey Jackson: 'I advocate hard for my clients. I give...](https://nbltop100.org/sunday-interview-with-stacey-jackson-i-advocate-hard-for-my-clients-i-give-110-percent/)** > > Columbus defense attorney Stacey Jackson talks with the Ledger-Enquirer for the Sunday Interview. Columbus attorney Stacey Jackson had a good year in the courtroom and a bad year at the polls. In September, Jackson's client Kareem Lane was acquitted... ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/831 "2023-08-23T01:02:05Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And do we get to send Tommy Lee Jones after them? Dog the Bounty Hunter. They could film a whole episode on it. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/832 "2023-08-23T01:04:26Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Dog the Bounty Hunter. They could film a whole episode on it. Way I see it, we’re due a new season of _Justified._ ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/833 "2023-08-23T01:45:38Z")
Where’s Jack Reacher when you need him? ---
**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 23, 2023, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/834 "2023-08-23T02:03:53Z")
I’m not sure i can remember all the details, but Stacey Jackson was a pretty good defense attorney in Columbus, GA, a relatively blue area. Then he was promoted to DA when the incumbent DA, Mark Jones, was arrested on bribery and corruption charges. So he’s been on both sides of the table. ---
**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 23, 2023, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/835 "2023-08-23T02:11:03Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I can’t answer that, but I’m sure the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission was not put in place to protect Trump. I doubt anyone would claim that ISNT the _stated_ reason for the legislation. Of course. But there is a large and informed amount of speculation that the legislation and the _timing_ (like moving it up to October as mentioned upthread) is that the stated reasons are for public relations only, and otherwise it serves to protect Trump and (as the charges prove) other GOP officials/politicians in Georgia from further investigation. My thought was if someone came forward with actual evidence (audio tapes of the sponsors / GOP backroom discussions) that it was for corrupt purposes, whether that intent is actionable or not. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/836 "2023-08-23T02:21:54Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I’ve been googling Stacey Jackson, the appointed head of the Qualifications Commission, and I can’t find any evidence of him being a Trumper . . . I have to take this back now that I searched some more: [https://web.archive.org/web/20170301175317/www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/article135664898.html](https://web.archive.org/web/20170301175317/www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/article135664898.html) So we’ll see if he gives Fani Willis a hard time. I hope not. ---
**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 23, 2023, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/837 "2023-08-23T02:32:19Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Way I see it, we’re due a new season of _Justified._ Check Hulu. > [@ParallelLines](#): > > Speaking to the efforts to remove Fani Willis, the legislation makes it ‘legal’ for various flavors of legal. But if someone were to come forward with evidence (unlikely but possible) that the sole purpose of the legislation was to aid Trump in avoiding justice, would that be actionable? To be sure, there are laws like: > **[2022 Georgia Code :: Title 16 - Crimes and Offenses :: Chapter 10 - Offenses...](https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2022/title-16/chapter-10/article-2/section-16-10-24/)** > > Justia Free Databases of US Laws, Codes & Statutes But, I feel like that, alone, wouldn’t be sufficient because you’d still be out of a job and it would be on your successor to pursue the case. You probably need a clear admission of intent to interfere with the investigation for corrupt purposes (which would be difficult since most soundbites would be of them saying that it was to prevent politicization of the office) and a separation of powers/enumeration of powers element in the State Constitution in order to void the firing. The Georgia Constitution is 100 pages long so there’s some chance that it gets into the rights of the Assembly towards agents of the executive branch but it will take me a bit to read through. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/838 "2023-08-23T03:05:44Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > The Georgia Constitution is 100 pages long… Yes, but does it have 517 amendments like the Texas constitution, hmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/839 "2023-08-23T03:16:23Z")
The first of many: > ---
**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 23, 2023, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/840 "2023-08-23T03:26:43Z")
Okay well… the Constitution (of Georgia) seems to give three different ways to fire a DA. 1. Impeachment 2. Removal upon conviction of a felony after approval by a grand jury. 3. Recall While the Georgia Constitution gives the Assembly the right to define the process for recall, the dissent from this court case notes that the word “recall” implies an election. > **[Mitchell v. Wilkerson](https://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/supreme-court/1988/45899-1.html)** > > Mitchell v. Wilkerson - 258 Ga. 608, 372 S.E.2d 432 There’s an argument to be made that the Prosecutorial Oversight Commission has no right to remove Willis from office. All they would be able to do is recommend Impeachment or a recall election. Ignoring removal from office, they might try to sideline her under pretext of “investigation”. This would plausibly fall afoul of the separation of powers rules. The DA, as an elected official, is given power by their electorate. It’s not clear what power the Assembly would be using to tell her what cases she’s allowed to take and whether she’s allowed to use the powers of her office. See also: [Welcome to Dekalb County District Attorney](https://www.dekalbda.org/news_detail_T6_R217.php) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928.md?page=41) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928.md?page=43)