Breakdown Podcast

‘Breakdown’ Episode 5: The out-of-state witness subpoenas

Fulton’s grand jury investigation into President Trump seeks statements from Sen. Lindsey Graham, Rudy Giuliani and more.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is among the allies of President Trump who received a material witness subpoena for the Fulton County special purpose grand jury. Episode 5 of the AJC's "Breakdown" podcast takes a close look at those out-of-state witnesses subpoenas and what they may portend for the investigation. (Evelyn Hockstein / Pool via AP)
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is among the allies of President Trump who received a material witness subpoena for the Fulton County special purpose grand jury. Episode 5 of the AJC's "Breakdown" podcast takes a close look at those out-of-state witnesses subpoenas and what they may portend for the investigation. (Evelyn Hockstein / Pool via AP)
July 18, 2022

The fifth episode of “The Trump Grand Jury,” the ninth season of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown podcast, recaps a busy period for the special purpose grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump and his allies.

There are a flurry of witnesses coming in to testify about what happened at the state Capitol in the weeks after the November 2020 presidential election. There is a courtroom scuffle over legislative immunity. And there is the issuance of seven out-of-state material witness subpoenas that penetrate former president Trump’s inner circle.

Recipients of the subpoenas include attorneys Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman and Cleta Mitchell. Also on the receiving end was U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

In their application for Graham’s subpoena, Fulton County prosecutors noted the senator placed two phone calls to Secretary of State Brad Raffesperger and his staff. Graham, prosecutors said, was asking about absentee ballots “in order to explore the possibility of a more favorable outcome” for Trump.

Graham has denied doing anything appropriate. And his lawyers issued a statement saying Graham will challenge the subpoena and expects to prevail.

In an interview, District Attorney Fani Willis said the pushback was expected.

“I expect lawyers to fight the subpoena,” she said. “It didn’t really come as a surprise to me.”

She also said it is possible another round of subpoenas could go even further.

“I think it would be safe to say that if people have information, in particular about Georgia and interference in the Georgia elections, and they were in the White House, that will not bar us from wanting to talk to them,” she said.

You can download the Breakdown podcast from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or your favorite podcasting platform. You can also stream it on your computer from ajc.com.

Trump investigations in Georgia and elsewhere - Continuing Coverage

The Trump Georgia investigation 101: What is it about?’

READ: Full Fulton County grand jury indictment

Who’s who in the Georgia Trump indictment - Photos, bio, charges at a glance

Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia DA prosecuting Trump

Scott McAfee: Meet the judge overseeing the case

Racketeering: Explaining the ‘criminal enterprise’ described in the indictment

LISTEN: ‘The Trump Indictment’ podcast — ‘The Enterprise’ - AJC Breakdown

LISTEN: Donald Trump and his allies indicted in Georgia - Politically Georgia

Watch: What is RICO? The Georgia racketeering law could be a factor

A closer look at state laws examined by Fulton DA in Trump probe

Fulton courthouse has seen its share of big cases

Georgia and Trump: Takeaways from the push to overturn the 2020 election

AJC Special Report: Inside the campaign to undermine Georgia’s election

Complete coverage of Trump and the Georgia investigation

Get the latest on the Trump indictment with the AJC’s pop-up newsletter. Every Wednesday through the proceedings, our veteran journalists guide you though these unprecedented times. Sign up

More Stories