The Story:
Fulton County’s district attorney Fani Willis asked on January 20 for the creation of a special grand jury to assist her investigation into possible interference in the 2020 presidential election by former President Donald Trump. On Monday, Jan. 24, the chief judge of Fulton County Superior Court, Christopher Brasher, granted this request.
What Does it Mean?
Under Georgia’s law, special grand juries cannot bring indictments, although they can recommend prosecutions. Their chief significance is in the issuance of subpoena for testimony, documents, and other evidence.
A special grand jury has an exclusive focus on one investigation and has a fixed date for the termination of that investigation. This grand jury will convene on May 2 and will work for no more than twelve months.
Former President Donald Trump was taped on a phone call with Georgia’s Secretary of State, Greg Raffensperger, imploring him to “find” enough votes to change the outcome of the election after Joseph Biden had won Georgia. Biden took that state, and its critical 16 electoral votes, by less than 12,000 popular votes.
The Thing to Know:Â
Trump’s phone call to Raffensperger took place on Jan. 2, 2021, just four days before the official electoral count on Capitol Hill on January 6, and the riot that accompanied that count.
