With legal cases in motion against former President Trump on at least three different fronts, attention this week has pivoted to Georgia.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) has spent over a year investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the state. She recently indicated her team is “ready to go,” and indictments are expected this month.
Willis told courthouse officials to expect action in the second or third week of August.
As anticipation builds in Atlanta, Trump’s legal team is juggling deadlines in other cases, including his recent indictment on federal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and a separate case involving what federal prosecutors say were efforts to retain government documents.
Follow along here for updates all day.
Trump rips Georgia case in New Hampshire speech
Trump blasted the investigation into his conduct in Georgia, slamming District Attorney Fani Willis without naming her and standing by his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.
“She wants to indict me to try and run for some other office,” Trump told supporters during a speech in Windham, N.H. “Wants to indict me for a perfect phone call. This was even better than my perfect call with Ukraine.”
“I challenged the election in Georgia, which I had every right to do… and they want to indict me because I challenged the election,” Trump added.
The former president has embraced the political reaction to his indictments, noting his poll numbers have gone up in the GOP primary with each round of new charges.
“Every time you get indicted I like to check the polls. One more indictment then I think this election’s over. One more,” Trump said to applause.
— Brett Samuels
Is DOJ’s protective order a gag order?
The Justice Department has asked for a protective order in the case against former President Trump stemming from efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
The proposal would not limit Trump’s ability to discuss the prosecution generally, making it distinct from a gag order, which would restrict Trump’s ability to speak about the case outside of court filings and hearings.
But Trump has claimed prosecutors’ proposal, which would place rules on how Trump can access and discuss evidence he receives in preparing his defense, would violate his First Amendment rights.
— Ella Lee and Zach Schonfeld
Former President Trump’s indictment over his actions after the 2020 election and around Jan. 6 has poured gasoline on a long-simmering dispute between the former president and his old running mate, former Vice President Mike Pence.
Trump had been restrained over the past year even as Pence grew increasingly vocal about differing accounts of the events of Jan. 6, the war in Ukraine, the future of Social Security, and the Republican Party’s approach to abortion. Trump was even mum as Pence launched a competing campaign in June for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
But Trump’s animus toward Pence spilled out into the open in recent days with the former vice president playing a central role in the indictment against Trump for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election.
— Brett Samuels
Trump directs rage at DC judge
In the days after his indictment over efforts to subvert the 2020 election results, Trump is directing his anger at a new target: U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing that case.
“There is no way I can get a fair trial with the judge ‘assigned’ to the ridiculous freedom of speech/fair elections case,” Trump wrote in all caps in a Truth Social post Sunday. “Everybody knows this, and so does she!”
Chutkan was randomly assigned to Trump’s case after he was indicted last week on four charges. An Obama appointee, Chutkan has given out tough sentences to Jan. 6 defendants, either matching or exceeding the sentences for which prosecutors asked.
Read more here about Trump’s reaction and how it might affect his case.
— Ella Lee and Brett Samuels
Security tightens at Fulton County Courthouse
A street near Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta was closed Monday as county District Attorney Fani Willis (D) prepares to potentially bring an indictment against former President Trump in the coming weeks.
The two southbound lanes of Pryor Street SW between MLK Jr. Drive and Mitchell Street closed to general traffic through Aug. 18, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The closed portion of the street will be converted to media parking, which will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The traffic advisory noted that the courthouse and Fulton County Government Center will remain open to the public and that the street will allow pedestrian traffic. No public parking will be allowed on the surrounding streets.
— Lauren Sforza
Trump might face RICO charges
Some experts say Willis may settle on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges in bringing a case against Trump.
RICO statutes are typically used for organized crime, but the Georgia statute is broader than its federal counterpart and can be geared toward any “enterprise,” enabling the use of the statute for a wider variety of conduct.
Doing so would help weave together different elements of the Trump campaign’s efforts, connecting a plot carried out by numerous actors. It also would allow numerous conspirators to potentially be charged, in addition to the former president.
— Rebecca Beitsch