Georgia Republican says he only followed lawyer’s advice when planning to overturn 2020 election for Donald Trump
No one knows if the Fulton County District Attorney Fani WillisThe 2020 election investigation will eventually end with indictments against Donald Trump and/or allies who helped him try to stay in power after losing Joe Biden. However, it was clear that the people Willis was investigating seemed to be extremely worried that they would face criminal charges, and we know this because at least one of them wrote a desperate letter blaming everything he had done to the attorneys general. represent him and Trump.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that in a letter to Willis’s office, attorneys for David Shafer, president of the Republican Party of Georgia, swore that their client was simply following legal advice when he organized a group of fake electors — and served as one himself — in an attempt to win a second term for Trump. Note that they don’t think Shafer actually did anything wrong—“We believe that the legal advice Mr. Shafer received was correct and that it was right for him to rely on it,” Holly Pierson And Craig Gillen said—the lawyers wrote that if prosecutors still decide that he broke the law, they want people to know that he just did as he was told and therefore cannot be convicted. Shafer’s actions as a candidate for presidential or backup electorate in 2020 were specifically taken in accordance with and based on detailed advice and repetition of legal counsel, eliminating any possibility of criminal intent or liability.” Of course, this is an amazing argument: Our client has committed no crime… but if he commits a crime just because someone tells him to, then he is not.
Willis had previously informed all 16 fake electors in Georgia that they were the target of her investigation and could be prosecuted; So far, at least half of them have made waiver agreements.
The DA, who is reportedly considering charging people with fraud and conspiracy, said last month that she would announce a decision on the charges between July 11 and September 1. The report was disclosed in a letter to local law enforcement, who Willis asked to become available for “increased readiness and security,” because the situation “could cause significant public reaction.” (Also: Not sure if anyone knows this, but Donald Trump has a bit of history: attacking prosecutors and inciting violence on his behalf.)
As CNN notes, Willis’ team has “at least three recordings of Trump pressuring Georgia officials.” [to help him overturn the election]including a phone call he made with the speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives to push for a special session to overturn…Biden’s 2020 victory in the state,” and the call he requested. foreign minister Brad Raffensperger “find” the exact number of votes he needed to turn a loss to Biden into a win. While the DA’s investigation initially focused on the Raffensperger call, it later expanded to include fake voter planning, fraudulent claims against state lawmakers, outreach efforts voting machines and harassment of election workers. When asked for recommendations, a special grand jury led by Willis rephrased: which individuals should be charged, the grand jury Emily Kohrs speak New York Times it’s “not a short list,” adding about whether Trump is on it: “You wouldn’t be shocked. It’s not rocket science.” Speaking to the AJC, another juror said: “Sooner or later a lot of things will come out. And it’s going to be huge. It’s going to be huge. It’s going to be huge. It’s going to be huge.”
