Former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants are facing various criminal charges in the Georgia 2020 election subversion case, with a common thread tying their alleged misconduct together: the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
This state law, commonly referred to as RICO, shares similarities with its federal counterpart and enables prosecutors to encompass a range of conduct, even activities outside Georgia, into their indictments.
RICO, which stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, is a powerful legal tool used to combat organized criminal activity.
In Georgia, this law has become a cornerstone for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, allowing her to prosecute high-profile cases aggressively.
The 41-count indictment against Trump and other defendants accuses them of being part of a broad conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. The RICO law becomes significant in this case because it permits prosecutors to connect various alleged acts into a comprehensive narrative.
These acts include making false statements, filing false documents, forgeries, impersonating officials, computer breaches, and attempts to influence witnesses. Notably, some of these actions occurred outside Georgia, in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and even the District of Columbia.
For Willis, the use of RICO serves as a strategic benefit at trial, providing a comprehensive legal framework that simplifies the inclusion of outside conduct without extensive evidentiary hearings.
However, RICO cases introduce complexities that may slow down proceedings, making them procedurally challenging.
One of the notable defendants in this case is former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, charged under the Georgia RICO law.
Giuliani’s connection to RICO is particularly noteworthy given his successful use of the federal RICO statute during the 1980s when prosecuting mafia figures.
The indictment alleges Giuliani’s involvement in illegally soliciting Georgia state lawmakers, making false statements, and orchestrating efforts to present fake electors in Georgia.
Willis, known for her previous use of RICO in high-profile cases, has a history with this legal tool. In 2015, she gained national attention by charging teachers, principals, and education officials in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal under RICO.
In 2023, she employed RICO charges against the rapper Young Thug and others, accusing them of conspiracy and criminal street gang activity.
Understanding RICO provides insight into the legal strategy employed by prosecutors in cases like the Georgia 2020 election subversion, allowing them to present a comprehensive narrative to jurors.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the significance of RICO in shaping the outcome of the case becomes increasingly evident.
