“We have a long road ahead,” Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis wrote to other prosecutors on her team in an email leaked to The Guardian. “Long after these folks are in jail, we will still be practicing law,” she added. The email exchange offers the clearest sign yet that Georgia prosecutors are adamant about putting at least some of the defendants behind bars. In August, Willis unveiled a sprawling indictment spanning 98 pages, hitting Trump and 18 of his associates with charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Following a grand jury investigation, the DA’s office alleges that the group “constituted a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in various related criminal activities” including, but not limited to, false statements, filing false documents, influencing witnesses, computer theft, computer trespass, computer invasion of privacy, conspiracy to defraud the state, and perjury. Though Trump, his former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and former attorney Rudy Giuliani will not be offered plea deals — prosecutors have stated they are sitting on a mountain of evidence strong enough to secure convictions — four of those charged have accepted plea deals and are expected to testify in the trial, which is scheduled to begin next August. In addition to predicting jail time, Willis took umbrage with not being referred to by her formal title, as well as accusations her office is withholding evidence. “No one placed me here and I have earned this title,” Willis said, angered by being referred to as a prosecutor rather than the district attorney. “I’ve never practiced law by hiding the ball, I’ve enjoyed beating folks by making sure they have the entire file.” She also advised her team to remain professional because their legal careers would continue even after the defendants went to jail, signing off simply, “yours in service.” Willis’ remarks about jail were not received well by some of the defense lawyers, who were surprised the she would throw around prison threats so casually, The Guardian reported.Fulton County prosecutors have privately indicated their belief that prison sentences will be handed down in their 2020 election case against former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants.
