Former President Donald Trump’s 18 co-defendants listed in the Georgia indictment are likely being told by their lawyers to think seriously about flipping and providing evidence against him, lawyer and legal analyst Neal Katyal said on Sunday.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis who has been leading the investigation into Trump and his allies for over two-and-a-half years, indicted the former president on 13 felony counts on Monday.
Prosecutors allege that Trump and his allies attempted to overturn the state’s election results through false statements, harassment and solicitation of several state and federal officials. All 19 defendants in the case are facing one count in violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, which makes it a crime to participate in a “pattern of racketeering activity” or conspiring to do so. A RICO charge can be applied even if the alleged scheme was unsuccessful. Trump, meanwhile, has maintained his innocence in the case.
Prominent Trump associates like his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows were included in the indictment. All 18 co-defendants joining the ex-president in the indictment face other varying charges.
Rudy Giuliani listens as then-President Donald Trump delivers remarks in Bedminster, New Jersey, on August 14, 2020. Trump’s 18 co-defendants listed in the Georgia indictment, including Giuliani, are likely being told by their lawyers to think seriously about flipping and providing evidence against him, legal analyst Neal Katyal said on Sunday. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
While speaking to MSNBC host Jen Psaki on Sunday, Katyal was asked who potentially poses the largest threat to Trump amid the 18 co-defendants.
“It’s hard to say,” Katyal replied. “If lawyers for any of the 18 Jen, I think would be advising their client right now to think seriously about flipping and providing evidence because you don’t have the ability to kind of hope that you’re going to get a pardon from the president or some Republican president in the future.”
He continued: “I’d be looking first at Rudy Giuliani, who’s obviously been steadfast and loyal to this point, but Trump isn’t paying his bills and so that’s obviously going to create some problems and he has a lot of exposure. I would also say Mark Meadows, the chief of staff, who’s kind of danced this dance for a long time about avoiding charges by somewhat cooperating with the feds. He’s, I think, being called in Georgia in a much more dramatic way because he’s indicted.”
Katyal also added attorney Ken Chesebro to his list saying, “All of these people are rich targets.” Chesebro was included in Willis’ indictment and was charged with seven counts including racketeering; conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer; conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree; conspiracy to commit false statements and writings; and conspiracy to commit filing false documents.
"Think seriously about flipping and providing evidence…"@neal_katyal on what lawyers are likely advising Trump's 18 co-defendants right now. pic.twitter.com/cBD3eKfs14
— Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) August 20, 2023
