“We ask that this report not be made public because, having seen it, decisions are imminent,” argued Fani Willis.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (RHC) — A U.S. judge on Monday ordered the release of portions of a grand jury special report into the efforts of former President Donald Trump (2017-2021) and his allies to void the 2020 presidential election .
Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney ruled largely against the media organizations that attempted to publicize the report, writing that all but three sections must remain classified until the report’s investigation is complete. Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis County.
According to the judge, the introduction, conclusion, and a section in which the grand jury “states their concern that some witnesses lied during testimony under oath” should be released, CBS News reported.
“While disclosure may not be conducive to the pace of the prosecution’s investigation, the compelling public interest in this proceeding and the undisputed value and importance of transparency warrant its release,” McBurney wrote.
It also ordered the district attorney to unseal those three sections by Thursday at the latest.
Lawyers for a broad coalition of media organizations, including CBS News, on Jan. 24 asked the court to release the full report, arguing that “the public interest is extraordinary.”
For her part, the Fulton County District Attorney said the release was inappropriate at this time.
“We ask that this report not be released because, having seen it, decisions are imminent,” Willis said.
The grand jury, a 23-member panel of Georgians with three alternates, questioned 75 witnesses while investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the presidential election.
This group served as an investigative body that could propose but not indict charges. (Source:PL)