# 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:** 76
**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:** [September 10, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1501 "2023-09-10T19:16:10Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > If I was a juror, I’d consider it a blessing if that scowling humanoid was absent. Trump would hate it, that’s for sure. Sitting down and shutting up while witness after witness says bad things about him is not a very Trump thing to do. Besides, his presence lends a legitimacy to the proceedings that he’d like to avoid. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1502 "2023-09-10T19:44:03Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > And doing that requires taking into account the election timetable! Why? Voters are free to vote for a convicted felon if they want to. Justice and, yes, Democracy, cannot be held subservient to someone’s day job. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1503 "2023-09-10T20:11:15Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Behind this is that I don’t think punishment often does any good. 20 years in prison might make others of his ilk think twice. But it’s true, Trumps destruction has been done. Now we need to fix his damage. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1504 "2023-09-10T23:21:22Z")
The trial for the former president’s alleged subversion of democracy being subservient to the time demands of his political campaign is like a doctor on trial for multiple malpractice murder charges saying that he doesn’t have time for the trial because he has a practice to run… I’d really rather find out of the end of the story (verdict) _before_ voting, or _before_ I schedule surgery. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1505 "2023-09-11T00:12:20Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > > > Behind this is that I don’t think punishment often does any good. > > 20 years in prison might make others of his ilk think twice. But it’s true, Trumps destruction has been done. Now we need to fix his damage. Lengthy punishment doesn’t substantially deter. Speedy and certain punishment can. (See [last three pages here](https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7363&context=jclc)). What might really deter others is if Trump experienced a big immediate drop in the polls after conviction or imprisonment. The idea that you can punish your way to good government seems to me unlikely, but we may have a test of it. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1506 "2023-09-11T00:56:09Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > > > . . . .Assuming conviction, and someone can correct me, there is a reasonable possibility that appeals will be exhausted before the November 2024 general election. > > No way appeals would be exhausted that fast. The trial, sure. Appeals would take 18 to 24 months. That’s a shame. Maybe this is impossible, but I hope that if Trump is convicted, appeals courts will put this on an emergency docket. Voters should know before they vote what the final decision might be. It would be bad for democracy if Trump is convicted shortly before the election, and then Biden wins, and, shortly after, the conviction is vacated. The chances of Biden being indicted by an overzealous red state prosecutor would increase, and, I predict, perceptions of unfairness would contribute to a Republican wave election in 2026. And there’s always the possibility that, after emergency docket treatment, Trump would lose the election because he had exhausted appeals before election day. I feel dirty writing the last two sentences, since they imply that partisan considerations should be controlling here. It’s more justifiable is to balance democracy and justice no matter who is under indictment. ---
**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:** [September 11, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1507 "2023-09-11T01:37:21Z")
What compromise to democracy do you feel is happening here? ---
**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:** [September 11, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1508 "2023-09-11T01:44:14Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The chances of Biden being indicted by an overzealous red state prosecutor would increase, and, I predict, perceptions of unfairness would contribute to a Republican wave election in 2026. Biden hasn’t committed any crimes that even an overzealous prosecutor would file. ---
**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:** [September 11, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1509 "2023-09-11T01:52:40Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Lengthy punishment doesn’t substantially deter. Speedy and certain punishment can. Which is why Trump should be tried ASAP. > [@bobot](#): > > What compromise to democracy do you feel is happening here? Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1510 "2023-09-11T01:58:41Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > What compromise to democracy do you feel is happening here? If the appeal is put on a rocket/emergency docket, in an attempt to let voters know the final result before the election, that rushing is a compromise of justice with democracy. Same is true if a prosecutor or judge tries to avoid trying a candidate between Labor Day and Election Day. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1511 "2023-09-11T02:12:27Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Biden hasn’t committed any crimes that even an overzealous prosecutor would file. Consider: [Trump allies respond to Georgia charges with fury, conspiracy and threats to prosecute Biden](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2023/08/15/trump-allies-respond-to-georgia-charges-with-fury--conspiracy-and-threats-to-prosecute-biden) > [@](#): > > Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a key ally of McCarthy and Trump, [endorsed a pitch](https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1691461871973613569) by Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller that a Republican district attorney “could indict both Biden and [U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro] Mayorkas for human trafficking.” ---
**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:** [September 11, 2023, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1512 "2023-09-11T02:16:17Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Consider: > > [Trump allies respond to Georgia charges with fury, conspiracy and threats to prosecute Biden](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2023/08/15/trump-allies-respond-to-georgia-charges-with-fury--conspiracy-and-threats-to-prosecute-biden) Yes. Crazed zealots like MTG are fucking around right now with threats. They’re going to find out where they get with threats like these. If anyone with authority backs off of justice out of fear of MTG’s threats, what she’ll find out is _threats work._ I’m not convinced she should learn that lesson. ---
**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:** [September 11, 2023, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1513 "2023-09-11T03:48:33Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I’m not sure about Georgia, but there is plenty of precedent for adjusting trial times to reduce general election campaigning impact. I’d still like a cite for this. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1514 "2023-09-11T08:40:09Z")
Even when they were in charge, they never went through with charging Hilary because they knew that she hadn’t actually committed the crimes they accused her of. The same is true regarding President Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1515 "2023-09-11T09:58:47Z")
If I’m on trial for murder, and my lawyer proves I had no motive or even the vaguest possibility that I could in any way have done it but the jury convicts me anyway-what then? With enough MAGA crazies in enough places, they could convict Biden. Will it happen? Probably not and perhaps I’m alarmist, but facts don’t matter for a lot of the hardcore GOP. With a President Trump it would be more possible. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1516 "2023-09-11T10:09:54Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > If I’m on trial for murder, and my lawyer proves I had no motive or even the vaguest possibility that I could in any way have done it but the jury convicts me anyway-what then? With enough MAGA crazies in enough places, they could convict Biden. Sure, but the point is not to assert that this impossible. The point is that we should not compromise justice today because we are intimidated by _threats_ of this happening. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1517 "2023-09-11T10:15:31Z")
No, you’re right. We shouldn’t be frightened by boogeymen or nothing gets done. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1518 "2023-09-11T12:17:29Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > > > I’m not sure about Georgia, but there is plenty of precedent for adjusting trial times to reduce general election campaigning impact. > > I’d still like a cite for this. I still think I read this in my last 50 years of newspaper reading, but, googling, cannot find a single example. I think it is true but others reasonably will not. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2023, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1519 "2023-09-11T12:47:49Z")
Now that it is too late to edit, I just found a possible, single example of what I said, in my last post, could not be found – a judge balancing justice with democracy – although it is in Virginia, not Georgia: [Judge agrees to delay trial of indicted former Prince William elections chief until January 2024](https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/judge-agrees-to-delay-trial-of-indicted-former-prince-william-elections-chief-until-january-2024/article_98d04668-c4fc-11ed-a1b3-635af969f0c6.html) > [@](#): > > At the time, [Judge] Weimer was hesitant to push White’s trial date out so far. Weimer told the parties to return in a week and be prepared to report back about witness availability and to set a new trial date. > > “This is not likely to go six months, it seems ridiculous.” Weimer said during the March 10 hearing, adding: “I am not going to put this in the middle of elections to have this thing tried in the press.” ---
**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:** [September 11, 2023, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928/1520 "2023-09-11T14:04:04Z")
The most important word there is “former”: I don’t think White is running for re-election. And the reason why the trial will be delayed is because a key witness in the trial is an elections worker who won’t be available from September-November: > [@article](#): > > The investigation stemmed from discrepancies the county’s current registrar, Eric Olsen, said he found in the county’s 2020 election records, which he reported to the Virginia Department of Elections. > … > During the March 10 hearing, White’s defense attorney, Zachary Stafford, asked Judge Carroll Weimer, Jr. for a continuance of at least six months to prepare her defense. > … > State prosecutor James Herring said Miyares’ office could be ready for trial in August. He also said Olsen, who is listed as a witness in the case, said he and his office will be busy preparing for the November elections between September and November and would be unavailable to participate in the trial. So while this is _technically_ “balancing justice with democracy”, it’s not to avoid interference with a candidate’s campaign: it’s to avoid interference with accurately counting the votes during an election. It’s almost the exact opposite of Trump’s case. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928.md?page=75) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-trump-is-indicted-in-georgia-indicted-on-august-14-2023/979928.md?page=77)