Fulton County

Subpoenas issued for former Trump associates tied to 2020 presidential election probe

ATLANTA — As a Fulton County judge is still deciding if Gov. Brian Kemp should be required to testify, he signed two subpoenas for four other people close to former President Donald Trump to testify for the special purpose grand jury looking into possible tampering in the 2020 election.

One of those subpoenas went to Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and another to former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, plus a third to a man who testified before a Georgia State Senate subcommittee about voting machines.

When it comes to Meadows, the grand jury wants to know more about his surprise visit to try and oversee the absentee ballot audit in Cobb County.

They want to ask about his emails asking the Justice Department to investigate voter fraud allegations in Georgia and apparently, he was also on that infamous phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani held a December 2020 state Senate hearing to testify about voter fraud allegations that were proved false by federal and state investigations.

Phil Waldron testified during that hearing. According to a subpoena for his testimony, the grand jury wants to know more about his briefings to lawmakers on voting machines.

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The grand jury also subpoenaed former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell. Channel 2 Action News was there in December 2020 when she was at a contentious “Stop the Steal” rally in Alpharetta.

“There was and still is massive voter fraud across this country,” she said at the time.

Grand jurors want to hear from her because, “Powell possesses unique knowledge concerning relevant communications between former President Donald Trump, the Trump campaign and other(s) involved in the multi-state, coordinated efforts to influence the results of the November 2020 elections in Georgia.”

Special grand juries are impaneled in Georgia to investigate complex cases with large numbers of witnesses and potential logistical concerns. They can compel evidence and subpoena witnesses for questioning, but they do not have the power to indict. When its investigation is complete, the special grand jury issues a final report and can recommend action. It’s then up to the district attorney to decide whether to ask a regular grand jury for an indictment.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.