Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis gave a rare interview to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday about her investigation into Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn Georgia’s election results in 2020 (watch above).
A judge recently approved Willis’ request to impanel a special grand jury dedicated exclusively to the probe. Willis said the grand jury’s subpoena power will force some recalcitrant persons of interest – like Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger – to provide testimony.
New: Atlanta-area DA investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia will be allowed to seat a special grand jury this spring. Fulton County DA Fani Willis said she expects to decide whether to bring charges against Trump in first half of 2022.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 24, 2022
AJC explains:
Selection of the 16 to 23 jurors will begin May 2. Theycan hear testimony directly from witnesses and issue subpoenas for documents and information but can’t indict. The jury will instead issue a report at the end of its service laying out recommendations, including possible charges that prosecutors could pursue before a regular grand jury.
Willis’ probe is centered on the phone call that Trump placed to [Raffensperger] on Jan. 2, 2021, during which he urged the Republican to “find” the 11,780 votes to overcome President Joe Biden’s win in Georgia. The inquiry is also examining the abrupt resignation of former Atlanta-based U.S. Attorney BJay Pak; a November 2020 call U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., placed to Raffensperger; and false claims made by Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani during a state Senate hearing.
In the interview, Willis said 10 member of her staff are currently preparing for the special grand jury, and she suspects it will see a lot of activity in June and July.
“There’s a possibility that after two months we’ll have all the information we need to press forward. There’s a possibility that after week one that some appellate issue will come and there’s a halt,” the prosecutor said. “But what I do think is within a year we will have all the information that we need.”
Willis also indicated that she’d be willing to consider pressing charges against the Georgians who signed and submitted to Congress a fake certificate attesting to Trump’s 2020 win in George. (In fact, he lost).
“Our investigation is going to be complete,” Willis said. “So if it is found that … the electors [are] part of a scheme to do something criminal related to the 2020 election, then it’s going to be looked at.”
Willis also revealed she’s been the target of racist slurs and threats, which have intensified after Trump criticized her probe at a Texas rally over the weekend.
Here's the letter from Fulton DA Fani Willis to the FBI: "Security concerns were escalated this weekend by the rhetoric of former President Trump…Mr. Trump made multiple references to investigations…including the criminal investigation underway in my office." pic.twitter.com/S6ZUStxzIw
— Brendan Keefe – Atlanta News First (@BrendanKeefe) January 31, 2022
Willis said she’s appealed to the FBI for protection. “What I’ll tell you is that conversations have begun and I believe that those partnerships are necessary to keep all of us here safe,” she said.