Georgia DA Fani Willis gives Donald Trump deadline to surrender

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants have until Aug. 25 at noon to voluntarily surrender in Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said late Monday night.

This followed an indictment on Monday by the grand jury that unveiled multiple charges in connection to their attempts to interfere in the 2020 election.

Willis during a press conference also indicated her desire to try all of the defendants, hoping to begin a trial within the next six months.

Trump and the other defendants are each charged with one count of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a law typically reserved for organised crime.

Willis said the charge alleges the defendants participated in a “criminal enterprise in Fulton County, Georgia – and elsewhere – to accomplish the illegal goal” of keeping Trump in office.

The far-reaching indictment is a result of Willis’ years long investigation into Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 election results. She denied that the investigation is politically motivated.

“I make decisions in this office based on the facts in the law,” Willis said.

“The law is completely nonpartisan. That’s how decisions are made in every case to date.”