Trump legal team tries again to block Georgia election interference grand jury probe
Trump Legal Team Mounts Latest Bid to Halt Georgia Grand Jury Probe
Attorneys for former President Donald Trump have filed another motion in their ongoing effort to derail the Georgia special-purpose grand jury’s investigation into possible interference in the 2020 election. The 650-page filing seeks to quash the grand jury’s findings, bar prosecutors from using any evidence from that investigation, and disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from further involvement—citing conflicts of interest tied to her re-election campaign and alleged constitutional flaws in the process. (The Independent, Business Insider)
Trump’s team argues that the special grand jury operated under vague and unconstitutional statutes and that public statements made by the DA, the judge, and the jury foreperson undermined the fairness of the investigation. (Business Insider, AP News) They also called for a different judge—outside the Fulton County bench—to rule on these challenges. (The Independent)
But their latest motion faces uphill legal resistance. The Georgia Supreme Court recently rejected a related bid, overturning attempts to block the prosecutor or invalidate the report. The justices unanimously held that Trump failed to demonstrate the “extraordinary circumstances” necessary to warrant intervention. (FOX 5 Atlanta, AP News) Likewise, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney dismissed an effort to toss evidence or disqualify Willis, deeming it premature because no indictment has been issued. (cnn.com, CBS News)
The probe—launched in early 2021 following Trump’s “find 11,780 votes” call to Georgia’s Secretary of State—was conducted by a special grand jury that heard from 75 witnesses over several months and has submitted a report recommending potential criminal charges. (Wikipedia, TIME) With regular grand juries now hearing evidence, DA Willis has indicated that decisions on indictments could come soon. (CBS News, FOX 5 Atlanta)
Summary: Trump’s legal team continues an aggressive legal strategy to block Georgia’s election investigation, but courts so far have rejected their motions, allowing prosecutors to move forward toward potential charges.