According to CNN, members of an Arizona grand jury expressed a desire to charge former President Donald Trump for his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
However, state prosecutors urged them not to indict Trump due to insufficient evidence and Department of Justice guidelines, ultimately designating him as “Unindicted co-conspirator 1.”
Earlier this year, 18 of Trump’s allies were indicted in Arizona for their alleged involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Those indicted were Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, both of whom pleaded not guilty. The grand jury showed interest in including Trump in these charges, but the state's lead prosecutor advised against it.
The state prosecutor made his case to the grand jury through a detailed PowerPoint presentation. He explained that while there was interest in charging Trump, the evidence at hand was insufficient to pursue an indictment. He also cited a Department of Justice policy that discourages prosecuting individuals who are already facing similar charges at the federal level.
Trump has already been charged at the federal level and in Georgia for actions related to the 2020 election. The prosecutor pointed out that gathering enough evidence to prosecute Trump could take a year or two, a timeline that influenced the decision not to proceed with charges at this stage.
Recent court documents have revealed more about the grand jury proceedings and the charges against Trump’s allies. These documents indicate that the investigation into the efforts to overturn the election is ongoing. This leaves open the possibility of future indictments, including potentially against Trump himself.
In the state’s response to a motion by several defendants, including Giuliani and Meadows, the prosecutors included excerpts from the grand jury conversations. The defendants had alleged selective prosecution and violations of anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) laws.
The grand jury’s interest in charging Trump highlights the ongoing legal challenges he faces. While he has not been indicted in Arizona, the investigation remains active, and prosecutors have not ruled out the possibility of future charges. This ongoing scrutiny adds to Trump’s legal battles as he continues to face charges in other jurisdictions.
The only state that has charged Trump alongside his allies is Georgia, where the case is currently paused. This pause is due to an appeals court decision on whether District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified from the case. The outcome of this decision could have significant implications for Trump and his co-defendants.
During his presentation, the state prosecutor emphasized the importance of weighing the DOJ policy heavily in their decision-making process. He acknowledged the grand jury’s interest in pursuing a charge against Trump but explained why he did not recommend it in the draft indictment.
"I think you should weigh this policy heavily. And that would be – that is why I have not recommended that in the draft indictment, despite clear indications from you all that there’s an interest in pursuing a charge against him," the prosecutor said.
"But that – that is – that is my analysis. That’s why you do not see that. And I know that may be disappointing to some of you. I understand. But it’s – you – I’ve heard you say today, [w]e worked up the other way because of this policy, and that’s where we’re at," he added.
Members of an Arizona grand jury considered charging former President Donald Trump for his involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, but state prosecutors advised against it due to a lack of evidence and DOJ guidelines. The ongoing investigation has already led to the indictment of 18 of Trump’s allies, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows.
