Why Georgia's DA charged Trump with racketeering

+ climate change threatens sacred Indian site US Edition - Today's top story: Fulton County charges Donald Trump with racketeering, other felonies -- a Georgia election law expert explains 5 key things to know [View in browser]( US Edition | 15 August 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Montana kids score big win in climate litigation]( - [Georgia indictment reflects principle of states’ rights]( - [The science behind your favorite fizzy drinks]( Lead story Former President Donald Trump is now facing four separate criminal indictments following the Fulton County grand jury’s decision – announced late last night – to charge him with racketeering and other felonies for attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Georgia election law scholar Anthony Michael Kreis joined journalists and political observers outside the courthouse yesterday afternoon, and into the night, waiting for the results of the grand jury’s vote. Meanwhile, a small team of us at The Conversation, like many other people across the country, watched and waited as a livestream inside the courtroom showed the routine process of courtroom clerks walking a stack of papers through the building and into a judge’s hands. The Georgia [racketeering charges carry a particular weight]( that can be harder for the former president to evade, Kreis writes. “Georgia’s RICO law is much more expansive than the federal version of the law. It allows for a lot more different kinds of conduct to be covered. That makes it very easy to sweep people into one criminal enterprise, and it’s a favorite tool for prosecutors,” he explains. [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Amy Lieberman Politics + Society Editor Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney receives documents from court clerk Che Alexander on August 14, 2023. Megan Varner/Getty Images [Fulton County charges Donald Trump with racketeering, other felonies – a Georgia election law expert explains 5 key things to know]( Anthony Michael Kreis, Georgia State University Fulton County District Attorney Willis’s RICO charges against Trump are essentially targeting election law violations, but by another name. The charges can result in a minimum five years in prison. Ethics + Religion - [Threat from climate change to some of India’s sacred pilgrimage sites is reshaping religious beliefs]( David L. Haberman, Indiana University At the pilgrimage site of Kedarnath in northern India, disastrous flooding has led many to ask whether the gods are getting angry about human behavior. - [Ghana’s plans for a national cathedral are mired in controversy and delays − but also reflect religion’s strong role in the nation’s identity]( Nicolette Manglos-Weber, Boston University With modern borders drawn up by colonial powers, some African governments have turned to religion to try to forge national unity since independence. Politics + Society - [Georgia’s indictment of Trump is a confirmation of states’ rights, a favorite cause of Republicans since Reagan]( Stefanie Lindquist, Arizona State University Donald Trump faces ‘double the trouble’ as Georgia charges were added to federal charges brought over his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. And that’s thanks to federalism. Environment + Energy - [Montana kids win historic climate lawsuit – here’s why it could set a powerful precedent]( Amber Polk, Florida International University The case hinged on Montana’s ‘green amendment,’ which guarantees a constitutional right to ‘a clean and healthful environment.’ Other states have similar amendments, and more are considering them. Education - [Daily report cards can decrease disruptions for children with ADHD]( Gregory Fabiano, Florida International University Traditional report cards sent home every few months are fine for most students. But for kids with behavioral issues, a daily report card can be a better option. Science + Technology - [Diverse teams can improve engineering outcomes − but recent affirmative action decision may hinder efforts to create diverse teams]( Lorraine Dowler, Penn State Diverse teams can not only solve engineering problems more effectively, but the outcomes tend to be more inclusive, as a geographer and feminist scholar explains. - [The bubbly chemistry behind carbonated beverages]( Michael W. Crowder, Miami University Ever wonder how soda manufacturers get the bubbles and fizz inside the can? A chemist explains some of the science behind the carbonation process. Hint − it involves carbon. International - [Two years after Taliban takeover: why Afghanistan still poses a threat to the region and beyond]( Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham Two years on from taking control of Afghanistan the Taliban continues to rule through fear and threatens the stability of the whole region. Trending on site - [Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? 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