Washington: Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted on charges of racketeering and a range of election-related crimes after a comprehensive two-year investigation into his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden in the state of Georgia.

This legal action, employing statutes typically utilized in organized crime cases, represents the fourth legal case targeting the 77-year-old Republican this year. Notably, it could lead to an unprecedented event - the first televised trial of a former US president in history.

Prosecutors in Atlanta have charged the former president with 13 felony counts. This adds to the mounting legal challenges he faces across various jurisdictions, a situation jeopardizing his potential bid for a second term in the White House. The investigation has also led to the indictment of eighteen co-defendants, including Rudy Giuliani, Trump's former personal lawyer, and Mark Meadows, Trump's White House chief of staff.

The latest charges introduce an unparalleled scenario where the 2024 presidential election might be litigated as much in the courtroom as at the ballot box. Fulton County prosecutor Fani Willis asserted that the defendants sidestepped Georgia's legitimate election challenge process and instead engaged in a criminal racketeering operation aimed at overturning the state's presidential election results.

Trump and his co-defendants have been given until August 25 to "voluntarily surrender" to authorities. Willis expressed her intent to initiate the trial within six months.

In response to the charges, the Trump campaign released a statement branding Willis, a Democrat, as a "rabid partisan" and accused her of pursuing "bogus indictments" against the former president. Willis rebutted this by emphasizing that her decisions are grounded in facts and impartiality.

The indictment against Trump includes allegations of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy counts related to forgery, impersonation of a public official, and submission of false documents. The indictment also accuses Trump of lying in statements, filing fake documents, and soliciting public officials to breach their oaths.

The charges stem from Trump's efforts to influence the outcome of the 2020 election in Georgia, where Biden secured a narrow victory by fewer than 12,000 votes. This case poses a substantial threat to Trump's political future, especially considering his lead in the race for his party's nomination for re-election.

The legal scrutiny and multiple charges could significantly impact Trump's standing, potentially altering the political landscape for the 2024 election.