Three years ago, Trump supporters besieged the US capital – what role did the US president-elect play in it? A new charge weighs heavily on him — and could become a problem for the Republican Party in the current election campaign.
A month before the US presidential election, Judge Tanya Sudkhan issued a new indictment in the election fraud case. Published against Donald Trump. In a 165-page document, special counsel Jack Smith accused Republicans of crimes in their fight to retain power after losing the 2020 presidential election.
This is the most comprehensive list of evidence to date in the case against Trump. Among other things, it publishes witness statements from a federal court grand jury and the results of an FBI investigation.
Trump allegedly lied to the public
Special Investigator Smith wanted to reverse Trump’s election — as an individual and not in his official capacity as President of the United States. The distinction is important because in July the Supreme Court granted former US presidents broad immunity from official activities. At its core, the plot was of a personal nature, prosecutors wrote in a written statement. Trump relied heavily on private actors to persuade them to change the election results.
“Along with his accomplices, the defendant began increasingly desperate schemes to overturn legitimate election results in the seven states he lost,” the document says. Trump allegedly knowingly lied to the public, election officials and his Vice President Mike Pence. He wanted to ensure that Congress did not certify the election results.
The charge sheet contains some new details. Republicans reportedly learned during the storm of violence at the Capitol that Pence might be in danger. Trump’s reaction to this was “so what?” have been – translated means “so what?”.
Following the Supreme Court verdict, the charge sheet should be amended
This document relates to the violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump is said to have deliberately incited his supporters to prevent Democrat Joe Biden from confirming his election victory. As a result of these events, he was indicted on federal charges in Washington, DC.
The charge was renewed after the US Supreme Court ruled in July that Trump enjoys immunity for certain official acts. The decision forced special counsel Smith to adjust the charges against Trump in order to move the case forward.
Trump Talks About “Political Witch Hunt”
The former president and current Republican presidential candidate has pleaded not guilty and described the charges as a “political witch hunt.” In an initial reaction, Trump accused special counsel Smith of working for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Trump said it was a tool of the Justice Department 30 days before the election.
However, it is certain that the potential process can no longer be started before the elections. If Republicans win the election, they could order the Justice Department to drop the case.
With information from Ralf Borchardt, ARD Studio Washington
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