GA - Former President Donald Trump indicted, 10 counts in 2020 election interference, violation of RICO Act, 14 Aug 2023

[SouthAussie]

BBM. Yes, it is my opinion which I clearly stated with "JMO" below my post.

It is also a fact that an indictment doesn't guarantee a conviction, nor does it guarantee the re-election of a politically biased DA.

JMO

As a far away observer, I applaud Willis for having the guts to take on DT and his criminal attorneys.

If the attempts to overthrow the GA election results had not been properly addressed via these indictments, democracy would suffer a large blow. imo

I (and others) am really concerned about democracy in the US since the advent of DT in politics. The rest of the western world has been quietly waiting to see if the US is going to do the right thing, or if it is going to allow a high profile (alleged) criminal to skip the consequences of his actions.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

I swear, he could murder somebody and it'd be "political agenda" to prosecute him. Where do you draw the line? Or since someone is a politician, should they be allowed to get by doing whatever they want? You do realize that any politician that is prosecuted for anything could cry "political persecution" and "WITCH HUNT", right? So where do we draw the line? Or is it just political prosecution when it goes against the other party's candidate? Where was all this political agenda talk when ya'll wanted to impeach Bill Clinton and "LOCK HER UP" with Hillary?

 

[BritsKate]

Where is the proof Latham lied under oath?

I read Latham's deposition in another case and she repeatedly invoked her 5th Amendment right. I wasn't aware that invoking her Constitutional rights is wrong.

JMO

Sigh. 5th ammendment protections aside, there's obviously probable cause she did indeed commit perjury because she has been indicted for it.

According to court documents, Latham has provided conflicting answers during depositions when asked about her involvement in the breach and whether she was at the Coffee County elections office on the day it occurred. The video confirms she was there when it took place and literally held the door open for those who breached the voting systems. Previously, the Justice Department had warned elections officials not to allow outside access of this kind.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/06/politics/surveillance-video-voting-machine-breach-coffee-county-georgia/index.html

 

[Stunned]

OMG- this poor woman--- I am speechless- Kanye West is a _______- fill in the blank

I agree Kanye is ……….something, but besides supporting #45, what did he have to do with Georgia? Was the publicist there on his orders also?

 

[Lilibet]

BBM. Interesting that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation did an investigation of Cathy Latham more than two years ago but didn't bring any charges.

Instead, the Fulton County DA brings charges nearly three years later. Her obviously political agenda is laughably absurd.

JMO

Willis completed her investigation before the Georgia Bureau of Investigation did. The GBI investigation is ongoing, so we don’t know if there will be more charges coming from their investigation. None of this indicates a political agenda by Willis.
JMO

Coffee County election allegations could be part of Fulton indictments against Trump, allies

RICO gives Fulton DA latitude to expand Trump case beyond Atlanta to Coffee County. But indictments could come even without RICO.

www.11alive.com

The Coffee County breach remains under investigation, GBI spokesperson Nelly Miles told 11Alive earlier this week.
11Alive asked the GBI on Sunday several questions about what items were seized by GBI investigators from the Coffee County elections office as part of their probe and about information the agency may be sharing with Willis' office. The GBI did not address those, saying the investigation is ongoing.

"The GBI is actively working with the Georgia Attorney General’s Office," Miles said. "The GBI has not been requested by any agency in Fulton County or any other law enforcement agencies."

 

[BritsKate]

I swear, he could murder somebody and it'd be "political agenda" to prosecute him. Where do you draw the line? Or since someone is a politician, should they be allowed to get by doing whatever they want? You do realize that any politician that is prosecuted for anything could cry "political persecution" and "WITCH HUNT", right? So where do we draw the line? Or is it just political prosecution when it goes against the other party's candidate? Where was all this political agenda talk when ya'll wanted to impeach Bill Clinton and "LOCK HER UP" with Hillary?

I know it's going to sound terrible but I honestly believe what Trump did in his quest to overturn the results of a free and fair election is worse than murder. I realize it doesn't meet the legal requirements of treason but to me his actions were nothing less than treasonous and have left incalculable, global ramifications in their wake.

A murder occurs one time and is relatively local to family, friends, and the victim/perpetrator's communities. This is a crime still in action that is slowly but surely eroding trust in democracy itself for millions of people and creating a great deal of uncertainty and volatility that has worldwide impact.

JMO

 

[Inthedetails]

Exactly. Cathy Latham is not just an innocent retired school teacher. She cooperated with Sydney Powell to give access to the county voting machines (caught on video) and she was a fake elector. Her beliefs did not justify these actions.

'Fake' Coffee County Trump elector wants 2020 Georgia election investigation ended

Cathy Latham, who also played a key role in the copying of election data in Coffee County, filed the motion Friday

www.11alive.com

Latham also played a key role in the alleged breaching and copying of election data in Coffee County on Jan. 7, 2021. Both the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Fulton County District Attorney are investigating the breach.
Surveillance footage shows Latham escorting operatives working with former Trump attorney Sidney Powell through the front door of the county's election office. The operatives then spent hours inside the office copying election data.

Texts reviewed by 11Alive and obtained through a years-long civil lawsuit challenging the security of Georgia’s electronic voting systems show Trump allies were invited to inspect the county's voting system.
“Huge things are starting to come together! Most immediately, we were granted access - by written invitation! - to the Coffee County systens (sic). Yay!”, said Trump attorney Katherine Friess in a Jan. 1, 2021 text message.

Meet the 18 people charged with Trump in Georgia indictment

Former President Trump was indicted in Georgia late Monday night on 13 charges ranging from making false statements and impersonating a public officer to conspiracy and racketeering — a charge gene…

thehill.com

Sidney Powell​

Beyond RICO charges, Sidney Powell is one of the handful of Trump associates to be charged with violating Georgia election law statutes, conspiracy to commit election fraud.

Much of that stems from Powell’s involvement in accessing voting equipment in Coffee County. Forensics experts copied the data from the county, using it to create a website that could be accessed by those looking for election issues.

That likewise sparked charges for conspiracy to commit computer theft, conspiracy to commit computer trespass, and conspiracy to commit computer invasion of privacy.

Powell is also charged with conspiracy to defraud the state, detailing it as theft of data as voter data is “property which was under the control of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.”

Cathy Latham​

Cathy Latham, a retired teacher, served as the chairwoman of the Coffee County Republican Party and was spotted on surveillance footage welcoming employees of technology solutions firm SullivanStrickler — which was allegedly paid by Powell — into the county’s elections office on the day of the breach.

Latham was also one of the 16 pro-Trump individuals who signed documents purporting to be Georgia’s presidential electors.

Since I have the indictment in front of me at the moment, I can see Cathy Latham is hit with 11 charges, specifically:

Violation of Georgia RICO Act
Impersonating a Public Officer
Forgery in the First Degree
False Statements and Writings
Criminal Attempt to Commit Filing False Document
Conspiracy to Commit Election Fraud (2)
Conspiracy to Commit Computer Theft
Conspiracy to Commit Computer Trespass
Conspiracy to Commit Computer Invasion of Privacy
Conspiracy to Defraud State

Source: The indictment DocumentCloud

 

[branmuffin]

I prefer a paper ballot because I know it is more secure. I've had my bank debit card information stolen twice and had to file police reports.

The Internet can be hacked and identities stolen. Which is why so many states have rejected the Dominion machines. Experts were recommending changes prior to the 2022 mid-terms and Raffensperger rejected it. When the Dept. of Homeland Security issues an advisory, I certainly would want my state politicians to pay attention.

JMO


The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in June issued an advisory based on Halderman’s findings.

In addition to urging a switch to hand-marked paper ballots, the experts say a statewide post-election, risk-limiting audit should be done on all of the races on the ballot. A risk-limiting audit essentially uses a statistical approach to ensure that the reported results match the actual votes cast. Current rules require only one statewide contest to be audited.

Election security experts urge Georgia to swap out touchscreen voting machines

The group responded to what they call “serious threats” posed by an apparent breach of voting equipment in Coffee County.

www.pbs.org

This link shows even paper ballots have been compromised in the past.

The History of Computing: The Troubled History Of Voting Machines

Voters elect officials in representative democracies who pass laws, interpret laws, enforce laws, or appoint various other representatives to do one of the above. The terms of elected officials, the particulars of their laws, the structure of courts that interpret laws, and the makeup of the...

thehistoryofcomputing.net

How do you count 170 million votes and verify the results before midnight which is what Trump wanted. Even using a basic money counting machine someone would challenge the results. Because Trump made it acceptable to challenge a loss. He was so good at it he challenged his 2016 election before it had even taken place. So why only challenge the states he lost in? Why don't Americans who believe the election was stolen believe the states Trump won in were won legitimately? That's some illogical thinking, imo. If voting was so rife with cheating why not ask for a recount of everything? Are we gonna get to point where sport teams challenge a loss because if you make enough noise and hammer it home again and again and again you might get some converts to your way of thinking?

I remember back in the 80s when the Moral Majority came about. It was a manufactured movement by Jerry Falwell and some other uber-Christian rightwingnuts who were hellbent on coercing the American public into submission. I remember a slogan around that time "The Moral Majority is Neither". And it was true. You can yell as loud as you want about how your philosophy reflects the values of the majority of "right" thinking Americans but until that is true it will never come to fruition. It wasn't a slogan but another saying about "The Silent Majority" is what tanked that movement.

The only thing that will save democracy in the US, imo, is to understand that having philosophical differences between friends, neighbours and countrymen shouldn't paint them as the enemy. Respect those differences. Build on what you do agree on. Go back to compromise instead of entrenchment and find humanity in your fellow man. These are the basic building blocks of compromise or as the book says "Getting to Yes".

 

[MyBelle]

If he didn't break the law then there'd be nothing to indict. You said "facts matter" but now you're saying it wasn't facts it was just your opinion. I can see the confusion. MOO

I clearly state my opinion which is based on facts.

Trump exercised his right to freedom of speech. He's now been indicted for it. Willis is now being called out by Republicans and I totally support them even though I'm not a Republican.

Yes, facts do matter. I never voted for Trump but I do believe he has an excellent shot at getting re-elected, thanks to Willis weaponizing her office. Her office posting the indictment prior to the Grand Jury even voting is beyond disgusting.

JMO

Republicans rally to Donald Trump’s defense after Georgia indictment

Kevin McCarthy says ‘Biden has weaponized government against his leading political opponent’ to interfere in 2024 election

www.theguardian.com

 

[MyBelle]

Sigh. 5th ammendment protections aside, there's obviously probable cause she did indeed commit perjury because she has been indicted for it.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/06/politics/surveillance-video-voting-machine-breach-coffee-county-georgia/index.html

In indictment isn't proof of a crime.

JMO

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

I clearly state my opinion which is based on facts.

Trump exercised his right to freedom of speech. He's now been indicted for it. Willis is now being called out by Republicans and I totally support them even though I'm not a Republican.

Yes, facts do matter. I never voted for Trump but I do believe he has an excellent shot at getting re-elected, thanks to Willis weaponizing her office. Her office posting the indictment prior to the Grand Jury even voting is beyond disgusting.

JMO

Republicans rally to Donald Trump’s defense after Georgia indictment

Kevin McCarthy says ‘Biden has weaponized government against his leading political opponent’ to interfere in 2024 election

www.theguardian.com

I guess if I call someone on the phone and ask them to kill my girlfriend that I can't be in trouble for it because it was just freedom of speech. Any charges against me would be political prosecution. I guess it's also freedom of speech to keep classified documents in my bathroom.

 

[MyBelle]

I guess if I call someone on the phone and ask them to kill my girlfriend that I can't be in trouble for it because it was just freedom of speech. Any charges against me would be political prosecution. I guess it's also freedom of speech to keep classified documents in my bathroom.

When did Trump ask anyone to kill someone? Link, please.

 

[Leilei]

Just don't get thirsty in that line up.

Especially here in GA.

 

[Friday Fan]

I prefer a paper ballot because I know it is more secure. I've had my bank debit card information stolen twice and had to file police reports.

The Internet can be hacked and identities stolen. Which is why so many states have rejected the Dominion machines. Experts were recommending changes prior to the 2022 mid-terms and Raffensperger rejected it. When the Dept. of Homeland Security issues an advisory, I certainly would want my state politicians to pay attention.

JMO


The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in June issued an advisory based on Halderman’s findings.

In addition to urging a switch to hand-marked paper ballots, the experts say a statewide post-election, risk-limiting audit should be done on all of the races on the ballot. A risk-limiting audit essentially uses a statistical approach to ensure that the reported results match the actual votes cast. Current rules require only one statewide contest to be audited.

Election security experts urge Georgia to swap out touchscreen voting machines

The group responded to what they call “serious threats” posed by an apparent breach of voting equipment in Coffee County.

www.pbs.org

Hand counting of paper ballots is very prone to errors. When an election is hand counted, it is always recounted by another set of workers and many times the results are not the same. Eyes get tired, a ballot is missed, human error etc.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

When did Trump ask anyone to kill someone? Link, please.

It's called a comparison. See, you're saying he exercised his first amendment of free speech yet the transcript of a phone call where he clearly does what's laid out in the indictment has been posted repeatedly. <modsnip>

 

[Leilei]

Latham's also charged with perjury which I believe alludes to consciousness of guilt which obviously flies in the face of her believing in her heart of hearts.

If you believe you did nothing wrong, why lie under oath?

ETA: And why does her implied age and previous occupation matter, anyway? It's kinda manipulative - like a retired schoolteacher is somehow impervious to wrongdoing or more of a 'victim' in this debacle. There's enough probable cause that she committed crimes that she's been indicted. I just don't get why some people keep referring to her as a retired schoolteacher instead of the former Coffee County GOP chair which was her role at the time of the allegations against her.

JMO

Ms. Willis doesn't put up with alleged criminal foolishness, teacher or not... Nor should she.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/08/15/trump-prosecutor-helped-send-atlanta-teachers-jail/

 

[Leilei]

BBM. Interesting that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation did an investigation of Cathy Latham more than two years ago but didn't bring any charges.

Instead, the Fulton County DA brings charges nearly three years later. Her obviously political agenda is laughably absurd.

JMO

Building a case takes time, especially when there are MANY co-defendants. I feel sure that that was just one investigational step in this case. We've seen so many cases here at WS, from beginning to end, that took even longer, with only one defendant.
Ms. Latham is in the "find out" stage and she only has herself to blame.
IMO.

 

[BritsKate]

Building a case takes time, especially when there are MANY co-defendants. I feel sure that that was just one investigational step in this case. We've seen so many cases here at WS, from beginning to end, that took even longer, with only one defendant.
Ms. Latham is in the "find out" stage and she only has herself to blame.
IMO.

But you know if Willis had filed charges a week after that phone call she would have been demonized as rushing to judgment. Instead she pursued an expansive, thorough investigation and dozens of jurors across two grand juries found there to be enough probable cause to warrant extensive indictments.

 

[Inthedetails]

Still on pages 1-2 of the GA indictment. It's interesting to see how many defendants are charged with each crime. But since the thread is about Trump, here are his 13 specific charges:

Violation of Georgia RICO Act
Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer (3)
Conspiracy to Commit Impersonating a Public Officer
Conspiracy to Commit Forgery in the First Degree (2)
Conspiracy to Commit False Statements and Writings (2)
Conspiracy to Commit Filing False Documents


GA Indictment: DocumentCloud

 

[Leilei]

But you know if Willis had filed charges a week after that phone call she would have been demonized as rushing to judgment. Instead she pursued an expansive, thorough investigation and dozens of jurors across two grand juries found there to be enough probable cause to warrant extensive indictments.

Exactly right.