Authorities in the state of Georgia in the United States have today (Tuesday) filed charges against former President Donald Trump for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in the state, in which he lost to President Joe Biden. Indictments were also filed against 18 other individuals involved in the affair, including Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney, and his advisors Mark Meadows and John Eastman.
The indictment outlines 41 criminal charges against Trump, including offenses of extortion by threats, providing false testimony before lawmakers, and exerting pressure on government officials to violate their oaths and change election results contrary to the law. "Trump and the accused individuals mentioned in the indictment refused to accept the fact that the presidential candidate had lost," it states. "Knowingly and intentionally, they joined a conspiracy to alter the election results in his favor - contrary to the law."
Further evidence is the telephone conversation that took place between Trump and Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on January 2, 2021, in which he pressured the secretary to "find 11,000 votes" that would alter the outcome in his favor, securing him a victory in the election and obtaining the state's 16 electoral votes. Despite the pressure, Raffensperger refused to intervene for Trump's benefit.
This is the fourth indictment against Trump in recent months, following his previous charges of making illegal hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, by unlawfully possessing classified documents, and his involvement in the events of the Capitol breach that occurred in January 2021. However, the current indictment differs from the previous ones due to the fact that it's being brought forth by a state. Therefore, even if Trump is re-elected as president in 2024, he will not be able to grant himself a pardon.
