Attorneys for former President Donald Trump have asked for a judge to toss the final report and evidence from a special grand jury in Georgia that spent months investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election.
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Trump's attorneys are also asking that a judge disqualify the Fulton County District Attorney's office from overseeing the investigation, according to a new court filing.
"President Donald J. Trump hereby moves to quash the SPGJ's [special purpose grand jury's] report and preclude the use of any evidence derived therefrom, as it was conducted under an unconstitutional statute, through an illegal and unconstitutional process, and by a disqualified District Attorney's Office who violated prosecutorial standards and acted with disregard for the gravity of the circumstances and the constitutional rights of those involved,” Trump's attorneys wrote in the filing.
The motion to quash the special grand jury's work and disqualify the district attorney's office from pursuing any charges in the case is Trump's first effort to intervene in the long-running investigation conducted by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat. It signals the aggressive approach Trump's attorneys are likely to take in fighting any potential charges Trump could face.
So far, no one has been charged in Georgia.
Willis' office is considering bringing racketeering and conspiracy charges, CNN reported Monday.
CNN has requested comment from the Fulton County District Attorney's office.
The wide-ranging objections by Trump's attorneys cover a number of decisions by the judge who oversaw the grand jury, the conduct of the Fulton County district attorney and a variety of interviews last month by the special grand jury's foreperson.
A special grand jury investigating Trump and his associates concluded its work in December and a judge overseeing the panel made small slivers of the report public in February. After the partial release, a foreperson for the panel went on a media tour during which she indicated roughly a dozen individuals had been recommended for criminal charges.
The foreperson, Emily Kohrs, declined to say whether the special grand jury recommended criminal charges for Trump, telling CNN last month: “There may be some names on that list that you wouldn't expect. But the big name that everyone keeps asking me about – I don’t think you will be shocked.”
Special grand juries in Georgia can issue subpoenas and collect evidence, such as documents and testimony, but they cannot issue indictments. Instead, they write a final report that includes recommendations on whether anyone should face criminal charges. Then it's up to the district attorney to decide whether to seek indictments from the regularly seated grand juries.