A Georgia judge on Monday ordered only the partial release later this week of a special grand jury report on efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss, refusing to release the report on his entirety citing “very limited due process”. awarded to Trump allies who have testified.
The report’s introduction and conclusion, as well as a section in which grand jury members raised concerns that some witnesses may have lied under oath, will be released Thursday, the Fulton County Superior Court judge said, Robert McBurney.
Any recommendations about who should or should not be prosecuted will remain secret for now to protect your due process rights, McBurney wrote.
McBurney’s order came three weeks after hearing arguments from prosecutors, who urged that the report be kept secret until they decide on charges, and a coalition of media organizations, which pushed for its publication. It comes as the former president steps up a White House campaign for 2024.
FORMER MIKE PENCE ADVISOR SAYS DOJ SUBPOENAL ACTS AS ‘SECURITY COVER’ FOR EX VP’S POSSIBLE CAREER BY 2024
The special grand jury spent about seven months hearing testimony from witnesses, including high-profile Trump allies such as attorney Rudy Giuliani and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and high-ranking Georgia officials such as Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp.
Former President Donald Trump is the subject of several investigations. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
McBurney wrote that the report includes recommendations for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, including “a list of who should (or should not) be charged and why, regarding the conduct (and consequences) of the 2020 general election in Georgia”. .”
The special grand jury did not have the power to issue indictments, and it will ultimately be up to Willis to decide whether to seek indictments from a regular grand jury.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has yet to decide whether to ask a normal grand jury to indict Donald Trump or his allies. (David Walter Banks)
Willis requested the final report of the special grand jury and it is intended to inform his investigative decision-making process, McBurney wrote, adding that the panel investigation was largely controlled by the district attorney and his team and was “a one-sided exploration.
There was “very limited due process” for the people for whom the grand jury recommended charges, McBurney wrote. Some may not have had an opportunity to appear before the panel, and those who did appear did not have the right to have their lawyers present or offer any rebuttal.
For that reason, the judge concluded, it is inappropriate to publish the full report at this time.
Rudy Giuliani arrives at the Fulton County Courthouse on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta to testify before a special grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 Georgia election. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
It’s unclear if or when Willis will bring the case before a regular grand jury in order to win one or more indictments. At a January 24 hearing, she said the decisions are “imminent” but did not elaborate.
At that hearing, Willis had opposed the immediate release of the report, saying it could violate the rights of potential defendants and negatively affect the ability to prosecute those who may be accused of crimes.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“We want to make sure that everyone is treated fairly, and we believe that in order for future defendants to be treated fairly, it is not appropriate at this time for this report to be released,” Willis said during the hearing.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
