Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted for trying to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election in the state of Georgia, reports BBC.
In the last few months this is the fourth criminal case brought against Trump and his 18 associates. He denies all 13 charges against him, including racketeering and election meddling.
Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis opened an investigation into allegations of election interference against Trump and his associates as early as February 2021.
BBC states that in a 98-page indictment made public on Monday evening the 14th of August, prosecutors listed 41 charges against 19 defendants.
Prosecutor Willis has conveyed her intention to provide the defendants with the option to voluntarily turn themselves in by Friday, the 25th of August, before noon. Her plan involves conducting a joint trial for all 19 individuals facing charges.
BBC reports that former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former White House lawyer John Eastman are among the accused.
The indictment states that the accused individuals, as BBC quotes, “knowingly and intentionally joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favour of Trump”. It also refers to the defendants as a “criminal organisation”.
The Trump campaign in its statement described the district attorney as a “rabid partisan” who filed “false charges” to interfere with the 2024 presidential election and “damage Trump campaign”.
Trump is the main Republican candidate for the presidency in 2024.
It should be noted that the gravest accusation, violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (Rico), carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Trump is the first former President in the US history to face criminal charges.
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