A preliminary hearing in the Georgia state election interference case against former US President Donald Trump will be held on Wednesday.
Trump and 18 other defendants in the case are accused of pressuring Georgia state officials to ensure the politician's victory in the state's count for the 2020 presidential election. The former president and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty. Trump has notified the court that he does not intend to attend the hearing.
One of the counts imputed to the former US president is violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), which provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Trump faces a total of 91 charges in four criminal cases that the Republican calls an attempt by the Democratic establishment to thwart his return to the White House.
The most serious counts carry a sentence of 20 years in prison for Trump. If the punishment is determined by compounding the terms, he could be jailed for several centuries. Combined, the ex-president faces more than 700 years in prison if found guilty.