Trump criminal probe 'entering new phase' as Georgia DA seeks special grand jury 'muscle': report

The seating of a special grand jury in Georgia to consider criminal charges against Donald Trump "could be imminent," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday.

"Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is likely to impanel a special grand jury to support her probe" into alleged election interference by the former president, according to the newspaper. "Some legal observers viewed the news ... as a sign that the probe is entering a new phase."

Former Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said, "My interpretation is that (Willis has) gotten as far as she can interviewing witnesses and dealing with people who are cooperating by producing documents voluntarily. She needs the muscle. She needs the subpoena power."

Willis' investigation is "centered on the Jan. 2 phone call Trump placed to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which he urged the Republican to 'find' the votes to reverse Joe Biden's win in Georgia last November," the newspaper reported.

Potential criminal charges against Trump in Georgia include racketeering, election fraud solicitation, intentional interference with performance of election duties, and conspiracy to commit election fraud, according to a recent analysis from the Brookings Institution.

"The investigation could also include Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, who promoted lies about election fraud in a state legislative hearing; and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who was accused by Raffensperger of urging him to toss mail-in ballots in certain counties," according to the Journal-Constitution.

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