In charging Trump, the Atlanta-area DA relies on RICO law. Here’s what it is

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is using Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute in the charges against former President Donald Trump and his allies.

Explaining RICO: Georgia’s RICO statute is based on federal law and allows prosecutors to pursue criminal enterprises, extending beyond typical organized crime activities like money laundering and drug trafficking.
* Georgia’s version specifies that even attempts at or soliciting these crimes count as a predicate act.

A history of RICO: DA Fani Willis is known for using RICO, having employed it in cases such as a gang allegedly targeting celebrities in a robbery ring and a group of Atlanta educators in a widespread cheating scandal.
* “RICO is a tool that allows a prosecutor’s office and law enforcement to tell the whole story,” Willis said.

Present charges: Willis is currently using the RICO charge in alleged cases of election interference.
* She is also prosecuting Atlanta-based hip hop artist Young Thug and others, labeling his record label a criminal organization.

View original article on NPR

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