Fani Willis announces arrest warrants for Trump and 18 co-defendants with deadline to turn themselves in

Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney in Georgia, has declared the issuance of arrest warrants for Donald Trump and 18 other co-defendants, setting a firm deadline for them to turn themselves in. This announcement followed a grand jury's decision to levy 13 felony charges against Trump for his alleged involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election outcomes in the state.

The charges encompass offenses such as RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act), conspiracy to commit forgery, filing false documents, and solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer. The indictment has also targeted 18 associates of Trump, including figures like Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff, and Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City.

In her statement on Monday evening, Willis clarified that following the indictment process, customary in Georgia law, arrest warrants were issued for the charged individuals. She extended the opportunity for these defendants to voluntarily surrender by noon on August 25, 2023. Willis emphasized that her investigation unearthed what she views as a "criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in this state."

Her assessment continued with the assertion that these defendants sought to unlawfully enable Donald J. Trump to secure the presidential term starting on January 20, 2021. Willis underscored the crucial role that states play in administering elections and ensuring fair processes and accurate vote counts within the democratic framework.

Furthermore, she noted that Georgia's legal system provides channels for challenging election results through established courts. However, the indictment contends that instead of engaging with this legitimate process, the defendants became part of a criminal racketeering endeavor to upend Georgia's presidential election outcome.

Willis expressed her intention to secure a trial date for the case within the next six months, indicating that her office would submit a proposed scheduling order soon. Nonetheless, the decision on this matter would be left to the judge's discretion. Additionally, she disclosed her preference for a joint trial involving all 19 defendants in this case.