Topline
Former President Donald Trump said Saturday he would not take a plea deal in a 2020 election interference case he faces in Georgia that is expected to go to trial before a grand jury early next week, affirming “we don’t ever take a plea deal” as he faces a potential fourth indictment.
Trump said he would not take a plea deal after a reporter asked him about the Georgia case. (Photo … [+]
Key Facts
Speaking to reporters in Des Moines, Iowa, while leaving the State Fair, Trump was asked if he would take a plea deal in the Georgia case, responding “I don’t do plea deals, we did nothing wrong,” and labeling a reporter’s inquiry as a “wise guy question.”
Though the reporter asked about the election interference case in Georgia, Trump used the question to critique his three indictments, claiming they were “brought out by Biden, who can’t even put two sentences together.”
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is expected to present the findings of a years-long election interference investigation to a grand jury next week, threatening Trump with the possibility of a state-level indictment, which would be his fourth overall indictment this year if it materialized.
Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) and independent journalist George Chidi confirmed receiving notifications to testify as witnesses on Tuesday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Trump also mocked the appointment of U.S. Attorney David Weiss as a special counsel for an investigation into Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, calling it a “crazy thing” that was “being laughed at all over the world.”
Key Background
Willis is a DA credited with high-profile prosecutions of Atlanta school officials, alleged gang members and rappers Young Thug and Gunna. Willis’ investigation into Trump came after a call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) in which the former president told Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to overturn the 2020 presidential election. If Willis’ case leads to a conviction of Trump, the former president could not pardon himself due to the state-level nature of the alleged crime. Trump has faced intense legal pressure this year, racking up three indictments involving charges over alleged hush money in New York State, along with federal criminal charges over allegations of mishandled classified documents and election interference claims.
What To Watch For
If Trump is indicted, he’ll be required to travel to Atlanta at a later date to be arraigned. As of Saturday, Trump’s closest indictment-related obligation is set for August 28, when a pre-trial hearing for his federal election interference case will be held.
Further Reading
BREAKING: Fulton grand jury to hear Trump case early next week (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Trump Election Interference Case to Go to Grand Jury in Georgia Early Next Week (New York Times)
Trump Indicted In Jan. 6 Probe—Here’s What Happens Next (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/08/12/trump-vows-hell-never-take-a-plea-deal-as-georgia-grand-jury-expected-to-hear-latest-case/