Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis reiterated her intention to disclose charging judgments in her investigation into former President Donald Trump and his associates’ efforts to change the state’s 2020 election results by September 1.
Willis indicated in a scheduling request to the head judge of the Fulton County courtroom in May that charging decisions coming from an investigation into “possible criminal interference in the administration of Georgia’s 2020 general election” may occur in early August.
She requested that no in-person trials or hearings be scheduled during the weeks of August 7 and 14.
Willis also stated in a separate letter to law enforcement that she will announce charging choices during the state Superior Court term that began this month.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney appointed two grand juries this month to hear matters throughout the session, which ends Sept. 1.
They will almost certainly be entrusted with assessing whether Trump and his associates will face election meddling charges.
Willis stated in an interview over the weekend that she is bracing for people’s responses to the charge judgments.
“Some people may be unhappy with the decisions I’m making,” Willis said. “And sometimes, when people are upset, they act in ways that can cause harm.”
She also mentioned additional security as part of the preparations, and she praised the Fulton County sheriff.
“I think the sheriff is doing a good job in making sure the courthouse is safe,” Willis remarked. “I’m not willing to put any of the employees or constituents who visit the courthouse in danger.”
Willis initiated a comprehensive investigation into whether Trump and his associates meddled in the battleground state’s electoral process during the 2020 election in early 2021.
Willis requested a special grand jury last year because the panel could issue subpoenas compelling witnesses to testify.
The panel, which was tasked with evaluating if there were coordinated efforts to unlawfully affect the results of the 2020 elections, suggested indicting more than a dozen persons. The names have not been released.
“There are definitely names you’ll recognize. “There are some names you may not recognize,” Kohrs explained at the time.
According to court records, at least eight Georgia’s “fake electors” — who signed a certificate falsely stating that Trump had won Georgia in the 2020 election and called themselves Georgia’s “duly elected and qualified” electors — have been given immunity in Willis’ investigation.
Trump has denied any misconduct in the investigation and accused Willis, a Democrat, of leading a politically motivated “witch hunt” against him.
Willis’ recent comments come after Georgia’s Supreme Court rejected Trump’s request to remove her from the investigation and to overturn the special grand jury’s findings, which recommends indictments.