Georgia appeals dismissal of racketeering charges tied to Cop City protests

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is asking the state Court of Appeals to immediately review a trial court decision that dismissed racketeering charges against most defendants accused in connection with protests against the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.

According to The Georgia Sun, a Fulton County Superior Court judge dismissed the racketeering count on Dec. 30, 2025, ruling that the attorney general did not have jurisdiction to bring the charge. The judge found that the statutory phrase “dealing with or for the state” applies only to business or mutually beneficial arrangements — not to criminal acts targeting state property or employees.

The ruling removed racketeering charges against 56 of the 61 defendants named in the case, leaving only five people facing charges related to domestic terrorism and arson. The Georgia Sun reports the attorney general filed an appeal on Jan. 20, seeking expedited review of the dismissal.

The case stems from a sweeping 225-count indictment alleging a coordinated conspiracy to stop construction of the public safety training center through violence, vandalism and property destruction. Prosecutors allege more than 200 felony incidents statewide, including attacks on state facilities and employees.

The legal dispute centers on how Georgia law defines “dealing with the state.” The attorney general argues the phrase should be read broadly to include adversarial conduct involving state employees and property, citing historical dictionary definitions from the 1940s — when the statute was enacted — that defined “deal with” as “to have to do with” or “be concerned with.”

The trial court relied instead on Black’s Law Dictionary, concluding the language refers only to business transactions for mutual advantage.

The state argues that delaying appellate review until after trial would cause irreparable harm. Prosecutors say the remaining domestic terrorism and arson charges are incorporated as predicate acts in the racketeering count, meaning a verdict on those charges could trigger double-jeopardy protections and permanently bar renewed racketeering prosecutions even if the dismissal is overturned.

Without the racketeering charge, the state also says it would be unable to present evidence of an alleged broader conspiracy. Under racketeering law, prosecutors can introduce evidence of co-conspirators’ actions to establish a pattern of criminal enterprise — evidence they argue would otherwise be excluded as unrelated third-party conduct.

The Georgia Sun also reports the indictment includes allegations that three defendants used a state-registered charity, The Network for Strong Communities, to publicly promote mutual aid while privately operating a “Forest Justice Defense Fund.” Prosecutors claim the fund provided financial support for property damage, violence and occupation of land surrounding the training center.

The Georgia Court of Appeals will now decide whether to grant immediate review. If accepted, the case could set new precedent on whether the attorney general has authority to prosecute crimes directed at state employees and property under Georgia’s racketeering statute.