CNN reports that special counsel Jack Smith has been able to get new evidence on the fake electors scheme by compelling at least two Republican fake electors to testify to a federal grand jury in Washington. Smith did so by granting the witnesses limited immunity, thus taking away their ability to refuse to answer questions by invoking the Fifth Amendment.
Prosecutors have played hardball with some of the witnesses in recent weeks, refusing to grant extensions to grand jury subpoenas for testimony and demanding they comply before the end of this month, sources said. In the situations where prosecutors have given witnesses immunity, the special counsel’s office arrived at the courthouse in Washington ready to compel their testimony after the witnesses indicated they would decline to answer questions under the Fifth Amendment, the sources added.
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At least half a dozen witnesses have testified before the federal grand jury in Washington over four days in the past two weeks, with many of the sessions focused on the fake electors’ plot orchestrated by attorneys assisting the Trump campaign in 2020. The numbers, profile of the witnesses and prosecutor tactics suggest a probe picking up its pace, several people familiar with the investigation said.
Why the sudden push? It could be an indication that Smith’s team is “nearing at least some charging decisions” in its 2020 election probe, CNN says. If Smith plans on bringing new charges against 2024 presidential candidate Trump, sooner is obviously better than later.
It sure looks like more Trump charges are in the works. CNN reports, “Prosecutors have also asked multiple witnesses recently about Trump’s actions before, during and after the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, sources said.”
Although the fake electors scheme “appears to be at the forefront for prosecutors,” CNN notes, Trump is in the crosshairs for potential financial crimes and money laundering, too. “One former Trump campaign official who testified this month before the grand jury was asked about specific campaign ads and messaging produced” as part of Trump’s multi-million dollar fundraising off his lies about the 2020 election.
More witnesses are scheduled to come before the grand jury very soon, too.