Georgia
Trump immunity ruling could shatter Georgia RICO case – Washington Examiner
The Supreme Court‘s ruling this week that presidents have some immunity from criminal prosecution came in response to arguments Donald Trump made about his case in Washington, D.C., but the decision could also dramatically affect the former president’s case in Georgia.
The high court ruled that a lower court judge will have to sift through Trump’s federal election interference indictment to determine which acts are official and private. Judge Tanya Chutkan will then have to decide which of Trump’s official acts are absolutely immune from prosecution and which are only presumptively immune. A judge in Georgia may eventually have to do the same.
It is unclear how this tedious process, which legal experts say could evolve into a mini-trial of its own over the next few months, will affect Trump’s four charges in Washington, but the Supreme Court provided guidelines that suggest special counsel Jack Smith’s case will be significantly weaker once immunized acts are excised from it.
Of Trump’s four criminal cases, the one in Georgia is the most similar to the one in Washington. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis alleged Trump and 18 co-defendants violated the state’s racketeering laws by attempting to overturn the 2020 election illegally in a battleground state that Trump narrowly lost.
Willis’s sweeping indictment featured dozens of acts that, when looked at as a whole, result in an alleged violation of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The acts included Trump having phone calls or meetings with state lawmakers, posting false statements on his X account about the election while he was still president, and communicating with officials in his Department of Justice.
The Supreme Court outlined in its guidance that a president’s communication with the DOJ is a core function of the office and must always be immune from prosecution. Other acts, such as a president’s communication with state officials or his public statements, could be immune from prosecution, but a lower court judge must decide that under the Supreme Court’s new framework.
As with Smith’s charges, the Supreme Court’s ruling threatens to imperil Willis’s indictment depending on what the judge in Georgia determines are official acts.
Unlike in Washington, where prosecutors and Chutkan can quickly forge ahead to address immunity in the case, the Georgia case has another layer of problems.
Judge Scott McAfee, the Fulton County Superior Court judge presiding over Trump’s case, ruled earlier this year that Willis was not disqualified from the case after Trump and his co-defendants argued a relationship she had with a prosecutor created an irreversible conflict of interest.
Trump appealed McAfee’s decision, and now the Georgia Court of Appeals has taken the judge’s decision under review.
Trump also requested several months ago that his case in Georgia be dismissed because of presidential immunity, and McAfee said he would wait until the Supreme Court issued its decision before he addressed Trump’s request.
Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, a Georgia-based lawyer who specializes in elections, noted that the Georgia appellate court likely will not address Trump’s appeal about disqualification until the first quarter of 2025, meaning McAfee currently does not have jurisdiction over the case to make decisions about immunity.
“It is very unlikely that the trial court will even have jurisdiction to rule on this motion or to have its own mini-trial prior to the election,” Lawrence-Hardy said Monday on a call with reporters.
She observed, however, that Trump’s immunity argument to the Supreme Court “very closely tracks the briefing in this case,” suggesting the case will undergo the same mini-trial exercise as the one that is anticipated in Washington.
It is also unclear how the Supreme Court’s ruling will affect Trump’s co-defendants. It could have zero impact on some, but others, such as former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark and former chief of staff Mark Meadows, may see some relief because their actions involving Trump could be protected by presidential immunity now.
Anthony Michael Kreis, a Georgia State University law professor, said in a post on X that it is unlikely that Clark would be able to face charges in the same case as Trump because evidence against Clark that involves Trump is now protected by immunity and cannot be included in Trump’s case.
Kreis said the court’s decision complicates trying Meadows but does not rule it out.
“As a consequence, it’s rather unlikely that Jeff Clark will ever be tried alongside Donald Trump at the same time,” Kreis wrote. “The Meadows issue will be considerably more complex.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The cases in Washington and in Georgia appear poised to stretch for several months or longer, but if Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, were to win the election, he could attempt to use his pardon power to toss his federal case out.
While the Georgia case is stalled indefinitely and may be drastically diminished once immunity questions are sorted out, Trump would be unable to pardon himself there.
Georgia
Georgia lawmaker proposes renaming Sawnee Mountain for Trump
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – A Georgia lawmaker is proposing a new name for Sawnee Mountain in Forsyth County — “Trump Mountain.”
(Forsyth County Parks and Rec)
What we know:
According to a post on social media, Rep. David Clark of Buford introduced a resolution to rename the mountain after President Donald Trump.
Clark called Trump “one of the most transformative Presidents in the nation’s history.” Sawnee Mountain is currently named after a celebrated Native American chief.
(Joyce Lupiani/FOX 5 Atlanta )
Clark is running to become Georgia’s next lieutenant governor.
Rep. David Clark joins growing race for Georgia lieutenant governor
Georgia
Weekend snow possible in parts of North Georgia
ATLANTA – While the workweek remains quiet, far eastern North Georgia and the Carolinas are bracing for a potential winter weather blast this weekend.
Chance for snow in Georgia
What they’re saying:
FOX 5 Meteorologist Jonathan Stacey says that while uncertainty remains, the ingredients for a Saturday snow event are beginning to align.
The primary window for impact is early Saturday morning through early Sunday. High-pressure conditions are expected to keep things clear through Friday, but a shifting weather pattern could open the skies just as temperatures plummet well below freezing.
By Sunday, models suggest the system will push offshore into the Atlantic, likely clearing the way for a sunny but cold end to the weekend.
Forecast could change
What they’re saying:
Current forecasting models are in “good agreement” regarding the timing of the front, though they differ slightly on how much moisture will reach the Atlanta metro area.
The European Model: Suggests the bulk of the snow will fall on the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains in the Carolinas. The big question for North Georgia is whether that moisture will cross the state line to impact eastern communities.
The American (GFS) Model: Offers a more conservative outlook, keeping the “lion’s share” of accumulation in the Carolinas and leaving Georgia with only meager flurries in the easternmost counties and higher elevations.
Georgia snow accumulation
What they’re saying:
With temperatures expected to stay below freezing all day Saturday and Sunday, meteorologists have to account for snow ratios. Typically, warmer snow (near 32°F) is heavy and wet. However, in deep cold, snow becomes “fluffier” and stacks higher.
For example, the same amount of liquid that produces one inch of slushy snow at freezing might produce two inches of dry, powdery snow at 28°F.
While an expansion into metro Atlanta is possible, it is not yet considered likely. Current probabilities favor Northeast Georgia and the Lake Country:
- Athens 40%
- Blairsville 40%
- Gainesville 30%
- Eatonton 30%
- Atlanta 20%
- Canton 20%
- Dalton 20%
- Ellijay 20%
- Rome 10%
- Carrollton 10%
- LaGrange 10%
- Griffin 10%
Sun after weekend
What’s next:
Looking toward next week, there is a silver lining. By Groundhog Day, the sunshine is expected to return. Regardless of whether the groundhog sees his shadow, a gradual warmup is likely to follow the weekend deep freeze.
The Source: This is a FOX 5 original report with all information coming from the FOX 5 Storm Team.
Georgia
Georgia football projected defensive depth chart, starters for 2026 season
ATHENS – With the transfer portal closed and the NFL draft deadline past, we know what Georgia’s roster next season will look like.
The Bulldogs had 15 players depart the program via the transfer portal, while four players declared early for the NFL draft. Seniors such as Daylen Everette, Oscar Delp and Brett Thorson will all move on to the NFL.
With so much turnover, it can be hard to know how things stand with the Georgia roster.
But after the frenzy of early January, we now know that the Bulldogs will have one of the most talented rosters in the sport.
As the offensive depth chart below shows, the Bulldogs bring back plenty of key contributors. There are some holes that need to be filled, specifically in the secondary, but Georgia has a number of promising players eager to step up.
Georgia football 2026 depth chart, defense
Defensive tackle
- Elijah Griffin (Soph.), Xzavier McLeod (Jr.)
- Jordan Hall (Jr.),
- Nasir Johnson (R-Soph.), Carter Luckie (Fr.), Preston Carey (Fr.)
Nose tackle
- Jordan Hall (Jr.), Xzavier McLeod
- Nnamdi Ogboko (R-Fr.)
- Valdin Sone (Fr.)
Defensive end
- Gabe Harris (Sr.), Amaris Williams (Jr.)
- Joseph Jonah-Ajonye (R-Soph.), JJ Hanne (Soph.)
- Justin Greene (R-Soph.),
- AJ Lonon (Fr.), PJ Dean (Fr.)
Analysis: Much like the wide receiver position on the offensive side of the ball, don’t focus too much on who lines up where. Georgia is going to move guys around on the front. For a group that was super young this past season, Georgia brings back plenty of experience while also having a lot of upside. It could easily be the best defensive line Georgia has had since the 2021 Georgia team. With how Griffin finished this past season, he could very well be one of the best players in the country with further development.
Outside linebacker:
- Quintavius Johnson (Jr.)
- Isaiah Gibson (R-Fr.), Chase Linton (R-Fr.), Darren Ikinnagbon (Soph.)
- Khamari Brooks (Fr.)
Analysis: Harris will help here and Johnson really played well to close the 2025 season. It will be very interesting to see how Gibson, Linton and Ikinnagbon develop this offseason, as the Bulldogs will lean on them to help a pass rush that was among the worst in the SEC.
Inside linebacker:
Mac:
- Justin Williams (Jr.)
- AJ Kruah (R-Fr.)
- Nick Abrams (Fr.)
Money:
- Raylen Wilson (Sr.), Chris Cole (Jr.)
- Zayden Walker (Soph.)
- Elijah Littlejon (Fr.), Terrence Penick (Fr.)
Analysis: Even losing a likely first-round pick in CJ Allen, Georgia is simply loaded at this position. Cole and Wilson will see the field plenty, while Williams figures to soak up a lot of Allen’s former snaps. With how much talent Glenn Schumann has at the position, it will very interesting to see how Georgia gets Walker on the field. He’s a clear talent, as his performance against Texas and Alabama showed.
Cornerback:
Right cornerback:
- Ellis Robinson (R-Soph.)
- Braylon Conley (R-Soph.)
- Justice Fitzpatrick (Fr.)
Left cornerback:
- Demello Jones (Jr.), Gentry Williams (Sr.)
- Jontae Gilbert (R-Fr.), Caden Harris (Fr.)
Analysis: Robinson’s emergence as one of the best cornerbacks in football helps solve the departure of Daylen Everette. Georgia went into the transfer portal to add Williams and it will be interesting to see how he and Jones split reps in the secondary. Georgia likes the 2026 signees it got in Harris and Fitzpatrick, though the latter enters Georgia having suffered a significant knee injury at the end of his high school career.
Free Safety:
- KJ Bolden (Soph.)
- Jaylan Morgan (R-Fr.), Jordan Smith (Fr.)
Strong Safety:
- Kyron Jones (Jr.),
- Zion Branch (Sr.), Ja’Marley Riddle (Jr.)
- Todd Robinson (R-Fr.),
- Blake Stewart (Fr.)
Star:
- Rasean Dinkins (Soph.), Khalil Barnes (Sr.)
- Tyriq Green (Fr.), Zech Fort (Fr.)
Analysis: Like at cornerback, Georgia dipped into the transfer portal to add reinforcements. Riddle is more likely to help at the safety spot, while Barnes could very well help at the star position. Jones is worth watching, given how much time he missed in the second half of the season due to injury. Georgia really likes Dinkins and don’t be surprised if one of the four freshmen safeties finds a way to make an impact for the Bulldogs.
-
Illinois6 days agoIllinois school closings tomorrow: How to check if your school is closed due to extreme cold
-
Sports1 week agoMiami’s Carson Beck turns heads with stunning admission about attending classes as college athlete
-
Pittsburg, PA1 week agoSean McDermott Should Be Steelers Next Head Coach
-
Lifestyle1 week agoNick Fuentes & Andrew Tate Party to Kanye’s Banned ‘Heil Hitler’
-
Pennsylvania2 days agoRare ‘avalanche’ blocks Pennsylvania road during major snowstorm
-
Sports1 week agoMiami star throws punch at Indiana player after national championship loss
-
Cleveland, OH1 week agoNortheast Ohio cities dealing with rock salt shortage during peak of winter season
-
Technology6 days agoRing claims it’s not giving ICE access to its cameras