What Does It Mean That Trump and Associates are Referred for Criminal Charges

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2 min readDec 19, 2022

A referral for criminal charges is a request for law enforcement to investigate and potentially bring criminal charges against an individual or group. This can occur when a government agency or committee believes that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a crime has been committed.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/12/19/us/jan-6-committee-trump

In the United States, the legal process for criminal charges begins with an investigation by law enforcement, which may be triggered by a referral from a government agency or committee. If the investigation finds sufficient evidence of a crime, the case may be brought before a grand jury, which will decide whether there is probable cause to bring criminal charges against the accused. If the grand jury decides that there is probable cause, an indictment will be issued, and the case will move to trial.

At trial, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the crime. The accused has the right to legal counsel and the right to defend themselves against the charges. If the accused is found guilty, the judge will sentence them according to the laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime was committed.

It is important to note that being referred for criminal charges does not necessarily mean that an individual will be found guilty of a crime. The legal process is designed to ensure that individuals are only convicted if there is sufficient evidence to support a conviction.

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