Tick tock Donald Trump!
When it comes to Donald Trump, the question that immediately comes to mind is: “What’s next?” The media was full of news, all related to Trump’s criminal activities that led to his indictment. First and as expected, Trump wants to delay the trial in the classified documents case until after the 2024 election. Good luck with that. Smith has already asked that it be delayed to December. That’s far enough. According to CNN, Trump and his co-defendant want the delay because “the charges will give rise to ‘unprecedented’ pretrial disputes” that will require court intervention. In other words, they’re claiming this is a “novel” prosecution, and they would be wrong. Others throughout history have been charged with espionage, and obstruction is nothing new. Trump may be the first former “president” to be charged, but the charges are the same. Besides, Trump has other things to worry about.
According to several outlets, things are heating up in the Georgia investigation into Trump’s meddling in the 2020 election. Fulton County began impaneling a grand jury on Tuesday, with Judge Robert McBurney once again presiding. Recall that Judge McBurney oversaw the special grand jury that made criminal referrals, so it makes sense for him to oversee these proceedings as well. CNN reminded us that the special grand jury heard from 75 witnesses, which included Trump’s advisers, his former attorneys, his former aides, and Georgia election officials. That jury did not call Donald Trump, but he is obviously the main target of the investigation.
Judge McBurney explained the process to those who were assembled and from whom the grand jury will be selected. In the end. 26 jurors will be seated, with 3 serving as alternates. It will be interesting to see how this grand jury pans out. As CNN pointed out, the case is being heard in a county that President Joe Biden carried at 73%, which should ensure that few, if any, Trump loyalists will be seated. They should be able to objectively hear this case based on the evidence and will advise the court-again, based on the evidence-whether they will issue a true bill, which will result in criminal indictments. It is interesting that Jack Smith is simultaneously heating up his investigation into Trump’s election meddling, and Trump will soon be facing those charges as well. Trump wants to push the documents case back, but he isn’t thinking about other charges coming his way.
In their filing to the court in the documents case, Trump’s attorneys wrote: “Proceeding to trial during the pendency of a Presidential election cycle wherein opposing candidates are effectively (if not literally) directly adverse to one another in this action will create extraordinary challenges.” Please. If Trump had any sense-and we know he doesn’t-he would drop out of the race and handle his business. Trump must think these charges are like his declaration Covid: they will “magically disappear.” His attorneys know better, but trying to advise someone like Donald Trump is impossible. He’ll end up convicting himself with his big mouthed ignorance.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years