Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) was among those speaking out this week after the fourth indictment of former President Donald Trump, which this time emerged in Georgia. Trump and a dozen and a half allies of his are now charged there with involvement in a criminal conspiracy to target the state’s election results from 2020.
The wide-reaching charges cover actions like the maneuvers pushing a sham slate of electors from the state for Trump and, as was expected, the former president’s infamous phone conversation with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which Trump, then still in office, sought action on 2020’s results. “The devastating 41-count indictment in Georgia of Donald Trump and 18 alleged co-conspirators makes it clear: states will not allow interstate criminal racketeering enterprises to overthrow democratic elections,” Raskin remarked.
Some of those besides Trump who were also charged in Georgia include Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and Jenna Ellis. The criminal allegations include claims of having solicited the violation of their oaths of office by various public officials, including with the electors scheme, which was also pursued in other states around the country. Though Willis’s criminal charges center on actions taken that directly involved Georgia, the indictment mentions some of those out-of-state efforts as specific acts in furtherance of the allegedly criminal ambitions. The specific actions identified in the indictment aren’t themselves alleged to be universally criminal. Many acts, rather, are alleged to be part of a criminal conspiracy, making them relevant here.
Trump has consistently claimed he is somehow the victim of election interference while facing his various cases because of his ongoing campaign, which he announced after the underlying investigations were already known. The Georgia defendants must surrender for processing — or face arrest — by next Friday. Security precautions were prominently undertaken in the Atlanta area to prepare for possible protests on Trump’s behalf after the issuance of charges, but no widespread demonstrations have actually started happening.
The devastating 41-count indictment in Georgia of Donald Trump and 18 alleged co-conspirators makes it clear: states will not allow interstate criminal racketeering enterprises to overthrow democratic elections.
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) August 15, 2023
