Fulton County Grand Jury Foreman Speaks. It Does Not Look Good For Trump, And Many Others.
Today the Associated Press and New York Times released articles summarizing interviews with Fulton County Special Grand Jury Forewoman Emily Kohrs. Under instructions from the Fulton County District Attorneys Office, and the Judge, Ms. Kohrs did not directly name any names. Even so, what she did say is revealing and tantalizing.
- The grand jury recommended indictments for multiple people on an array of charges. This is the first clear confirmation of this.
- The array of charges is so lengthy that the grand jury report includes an exhibit with eight pages of legal code cited in the report.
- In regard to the number of charges Ms. Kohrs states, “it is not a short list.”
- When directly asked whether the grand jury recommended Trump be indicted, Ms. Kohrs answered: “You’re not going to be shocked. It’s not rocket science. You won’t be too surprised . . . it is not going to be some giant plot twist. You probably have a fair idea of what may be in there. I’m trying very hard to say that delicately.”
- Ms. Kohrs also stated, “We definitely started with the first phone call, the call to Secretary Raffensperger that was so publicized.”
Kohrs stated she entered the process only vaguely aware of election controversies. When she heard the recording of the Raffensperger phone call in the grand jury room it was the first time she had. She also provided nuggets on some of the specific witnesses, including:
- Lindsey Graham politely answered questions and even joked with the jury.
- Rudy Giuliani invoked privilege on some questions but “genuinely seemed to consider” the merits of the privilege when doing so.
- Mark Meadows testified but was not very forthcoming. Cassidy Hutchinson was. Governor Kemp testified like he didn’t want to be there.
- Some witnesses refused to answer any questions. In response prosecutors would do a “show and tell.” Prosecutors would show video of the person answering the question on TV, or to the January 6 Committee, and ask them to confirm what they said.
- At least one witness became much more cooperative once offered immunity.
- There were also other witnesses who arrived for testimony with immunity deals already in place.
Ms. Kohrs’ sudden openness to two major media outlets suggests to me that (the now promised) indictments in this case are indeed finally really imminent. I mean “imminent” in a more common person and less legalistic way than when Fani Willis said charging decisions were imminent 28 days ago today.
Some of Kohrs’ words were aimed at suggesting the fairness of the proceedings. For example, Kohrs stated that she did not feel as if prosecutors were trying to influence the report. Ultimately she declared, “I fully stand by our report as our decision and our conclusion.”
Stay tuned, imminently.
UPDATE
Kohrs has given another interview to NBC. Two major additional points.
- Grand jury recommended over a dozen indictments.
- Asked if the indictments included Trump she responded, “Potentially. It might.”
- Kohrs described Lindsey Graham as “honest.” She went further stating Grahams was, “fantastic. He was personable. He was forthcoming. He was very willing to just have a conversation.” He’s not the one the grand jury is going to accuse of perjury.
- She also indicated she was impressed by Giuliani. I would have thought him sure to be indicted. I am much less sure now.
- About a dozen people testified with immunity. She said they were mostly names you would not recognize. Still, that’s a lot of immunity. They don’t do that without really good reason.
- Kohr said she did not vote in either the 2016 or 2020 elections.
FURTHER EDIT AND UPDATE
Kohrs also gave an interview to the Atlanta Constitution Journal. In it she was asked about Trump’s claim that her grand jury “totally” exonerated him. When told that Kohr’s, “rolled her eyes and then burst out laughing.” She responded, “Did he really say that? Oh, that’s fantastic. That’s phenomenal. I love it.”
