Donald Trump’s week from hell
I subscribe to Slate and awakened to a headline I found humorous: “Donald Trump Had a Truly Terrible Week.” Anytime I see bad news for Donald Trump, I rejoice. I am so sure many of you are rejoicing with me. One thing that stuck out in this piece for me was the paragraph referencing Fulton County DA Fani Willis’ ask for the convening of a grand jury. Her ask was granted. Hopefully, this will translate into Trump having a truly bad year, and we are only near the end of January.
Huffington Post reported that DA Willis’ grand jury will be seated beginning May 2 to start investigating possible criminal repercussions for Donald Trump’s attempts to interfere in Georgia’s elections. Judge Christopher Brasher, Chief Judge of Fulton County, issued the order, which said, in pertinent part: “The special purpose grand jury shall be authorized to investigate any and all facts and circumstances relating directly or indirectly to alleged violations of the laws of the State of Georgia,” and he has given them full authority to make criminal recommendations upon the conclusion of their investigation. The grand jury will be seated for one year, and their sole focus will be on finding evidence that Trump violated Georgia election laws. This is very good news. Grand juries typically sit for a time certain (usually two to four months) to review all felony level charges pending in a county. Judge Brasher giving this “special grand jury” an entire year to look at one issue not only allows this jury to focus, but it gives them time to gather and consider all evidence that point to criminal activity. Trump’s phone call to Raffensperger is very damning, but Trump, of course, claims that his call was “even more perfect” than his call with Ukraine’s president. We all know how that call went, and it was far from “perfect.” It was more like blackmail.
Trump typically sees things the way he wants to see them, and he is usually alone in his viewpoint. He does, however, have enablers and “protectors,” for lack of a better word, who maintain their silence on his behalf. The special grand jury will have subpoena power, and they will be using it to summon those who refused to cooperate the New York Times reported. This could well be the most serious case pending against Trump.
Legal experts who have been watching this case transpire believe that criminal charges could include racketeering and/or conspiracy. This case also marks the first time that a criminal accusation might be pursued against Donald Trump directly, and if he is charged, he will have to face a jury in Georgia. That jury, however, will be difficult to seat, and a change of venue will not help. Trump’s activities have been in the national news for quite some time, and it will be difficult, if not impossible, to find people who have never heard of it. Of course, it will depend on whether the prosecutor and defense counsel can ensure objectivity. Trump has not yet been charged with anything, but it is going to be intriguing to watch the investigation proceed.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years