What to know about Donald Trump’s fourth indictment in Georgia

Donald Trump was indicted in Georgia on Monday, alongside 18 other people, for charges connected to illegally attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state.

It marks the latest chapter in a still-unfolding and unprecedented saga surrounding a front-running presidential candidate facing multiple criminal and civil investigations while on the campaign trail. It’s unclear how the balancing act could impact Trump’s campaign. Trump is also the first former president to be indicted on criminal charges.

Here’s what you need to know.

Trump faces 13 felony charges in the Georgia indictment, including a violation of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, law. He was also charged with trying to get a public official to violate an oath, conspiracy to impersonate a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery, and conspiracy to commit false statements and file false documents.

This case also hinges on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. This time, a Georgia prosecutor investigated his attempts to reverse the state’s results.

In May, a Georgia judge released limited excerpts from a special grand jury report looking into allegations that Trump interfered with Georgia’s 2020 presidential election. One line said the grand jury believed “that perjury may have been committed by one or more of the witnesses testifying before it.” Georgia is a critical swing state in presidential elections.

As noted by CNN, the Georgia case would cover Trump’s conduct while he was a sitting president. Now, as a Republican presidential candidate, his reputation among Georgia voters — a state that will likely be a key battleground — is at stake.

The probe focuses on what prosecutors say was a wide-ranging scheme from Trump allies to pad support for Trump with votes from fake electors from the state. In an audio recording, Trump can be heard asking state election officials — including the Republican secretary of state — to “find” the needed “11,780 votes, which is one more than we have.”

Trump’s first indictment was in New York in March and involved 34 felony charges for a hush-money payment prosecutors say he made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and allegations of surrounding business fraud.

The second indictment — and first federal case — was announced in June and dealt with the special counsel’s investigation into how Trump handled classified documents. Trump faces 40 criminal counts in that case: 32 related to the unauthorized retention of national security secrets, six for obstructing the investigation, and two for false statements.

Earlier this month, the special counsel filed a third case against Trump regarding an investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Trump has taken jabs at Willis.

While speaking in New Hampshire last week, he dismissed her investigation and suggested Willis, who is Black, was “racist.”

On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said Willis was trying to interfere with his 2024 presidential campaign and denied tampering with the 2020 election.

Earlier this month, Trump pleaded not guilty to his federal charges surrounding allegations that he interfered with the election.

Trump will have to surrender or be extradited for his arraignment. The last three times he’s been charged, he has voluntarily surrendered.

Trump’s campaign has used the former president’s previous arraignments in campaigning. After his arrest and courtroom visits, Trump has made stops at local restaurants and hosted news conferences.

Inquirer staff writer Felicia Gans Sobey contributed to this report.