Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia have launched a criminal investigation into Trump’s attempts to overturn election results in the state, The New York Times reports. According to the outlet, the investigation includes a phone call between Trump and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which Trump pressured Raffensperger to “find” the votes needed for him to win.
On Wednesday (Feb. 10), county prosecutor Fani Willis reportedly sent a letter to multiple government officials, including Raffensperger, asking that they hold on to any documents that might relate to “an investigation into attempts to influence the administration of the 2020 Georgia General Election.” According to NYT, a “state official” said the letter refers to Trump’s intervention in the presidential election without directly naming him.
“This investigation includes, but is not limited to, potential violations of Georgia law prohibiting the solicitation of election fraud, the making of false statements to state and local governmental bodies, conspiracy, racketeering, violation of oath of office and any involvement in violence or threats related to the election’s administration,” the letter reads.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Lieutenant Gov. Geoff Duncan and Attorney General Chris Carr also received the letter, NYT reports.
The investigation arrives as Trump’s Senate impeachment trial is underway. The former president was impeached by the House of Representatives last month for inciting the Capitol riot.
Prior to the trial’s start on Tuesday (Feb. 9), Trump’s lawyers called the proceedings “political theater.”
“This was only ever a selfish attempt by Democratic leadership in the House to prey upon the feelings of horror and confusion that fell upon all Americans across the entire political spectrum upon seeing the destruction at the Capitol on Jan. 6 by a few hundred people,” they said.
In their own statement, House impeachment managers disagreed.
“President Trump’s repeated claims about a ‘rigged’ and ‘stolen’ election were false, no matter how many contortions his lawyers undertake to avoid saying so,” they wrote. “The evidence of President Trump’s conduct is overwhelming. He has no valid excuse or defense for his actions. And his efforts to escape accountability are entirely unavailing.”