National spotlight looms for Fulton probe as Trump campaigns for White House return

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (center) speaks to the press during the the Second Annual Full Force Fulton Law enforcement and Elected Officials Collaboration Summit at Atlanta Metropolitan Sate College in Atlanta, Ga on June 15, 2022. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Fulton County could dominate national headlines this summer if District Attorney Fani Willis files criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and his inner circle over alleged 2020 election interference. 

Law enforcement agencies have been informed by Willis that additional security around the downtown Atlanta courthouse could be necessary if charging decisions are announced within the next several weeks in a potentially historic case. State prosecutors have asked Fulton judges to keep their court calendars open for the investigation that could lead to Trump and his allies facing criminal racketeering charges for conspiring to overturn his presidential election loss to President Joe Biden.

A newly sworn-in grand jury could be asked to consider the case and decide whether to issue indictments against a number of Georgians as well as highly influential Republican national political figures who were closely aligned with Trump as he lodged unfounded claims that widespread election fraud was the reason he lost in 2020 by nearly 12,000 votes in Georgia.