Grand jury faces online threats due to Trump RICO case: Axios

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
18 Aug 2023 23:58

Members of Fulton County's grand jury have faced online backlash and threats as a result of racketeering charges pressed against Trump.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a news conference at the Fulton County Government building, Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday, August 14, 2023. (AFP)

Members of the Atlanta, Georgia grand jury who recently voted to indict former President Trump and 18 others, have found themselves on the receiving end of online threats.

The development raises concerns for authorities about the safety of citizens participating in the judicial proceedings and underscores the delicate balance that county officials must maintain between transparency in the legal process and safeguarding individuals.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office released a statement on Thursday revealing that personal information belonging to the grand jury members has been disseminated across various online platforms. Law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels are collaborating to trace the source of these threats, as confirmed by county investigators, Axios reports.

Although the identities of the grand jury members are publicly accessible in accordance with state law, the 98-page indictment does not divulge additional details about the jurors, such as their addresses.

The names of these jurors have surfaced on pro-Trump forums, as reported by The Washington Post. Certain supporters of the former President have even gone so far as to weigh the perceived benefits of delving into the jurors' lives against the potential risks of facing consequences.

Adding to the situation, images of at least two jurors were posted on X earlier this week, as disclosed by WaPo. Consequently, some of the jurors have chosen to deactivate their social media accounts to ensure their personal safety.

Individuals on certain forums have also published social media profiles of people who share names with the grand jurors. However, the authenticity of these profiles remains uncertain, introducing an additional layer of danger, as reported by CNN.

Trump faces the gravest legal challenge yet

Prosecutors charged Trump with 13 felony counts on Tuesday, in the fourth legal campaign against the 2024 Republic presidential candidate.

The indictments include charges of racketeering and a number of election violations that encompass 18 co-defendants, including his former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows.

The case stems back to the former President's attempt to overturn the results of his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden in the state of Georgia. It will also mark the first televised trial for Trump who is also being tried in New York, Florida, and Washington.

"Rather than abide by Georgia's legal process for election challenges, the defendants engaged in a criminal racketeering enterprise to overturn Georgia's presidential election result," Fulton County prosecutor Fani Willis told reporters.

The official said Trump and the 18 other suspects had until August 25 to "voluntarily surrender" to state authorities, saying she would push for the trial to commence within the next six months.

The severe punishments associated with RICO cases could see co-defendants pursue cooperation deals to avoid them. The investigation targets a Trump phone call to Georgia officials where he allegedly pressed State officials to "find" the 11,780 votes that gave Biden the win during the 2020 presidential election. His chief of staff, Meadows, who was indicted for attempting to get a public official to violate his oath, was also present.