Trump just can’t catch a break.
A judge has dismissed former President Donald Trump’s attempt to avoid indictment in the investigation conducted by Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis concerning his actions surrounding the 2020 election.
According to Newsweek, Willis looked into whether Trump’s phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger, where he allegedly asked for the discovery of enough votes to overturn the election results in his favor, violated state election interference laws.
While it is uncertain if Trump will be charged in this case, Willis stated that she would announce any charges by September 1 and suggested her office is ready to proceed further. Trump has consistently claimed innocence, believing that the investigation is politically motivated.
In March, Trump’s legal team sought to block the grand jury’s final report, prevent the use of any evidence obtained by the grand jury in any state prosecution, and disqualify Willis from future investigations into election interference.
However, on Monday, Judge Robert C.I. McBurney rejected these efforts, stating that the suppression of the report is not typically allowed by law. He also emphasized that Trump would need substantial evidence to justify the request for Willis’s disqualification, such as a conflict of interest or forensic misconduct, which was not demonstrated in this case. Additionally, the judge dismissed Trump’s claims that Willis’s investigation was influenced by personal political beliefs.
The ruling was made shortly after Willis informed the media that her office is fully prepared to proceed with the case. Previous social media videos showing barricades being set up at the Fulton County courthouse had sparked speculation about a potential imminent indictment. In February, the forewoman of the special grand jury hinted that Trump was among the more than a dozen individuals recommended for indictment.