Donald Trump charged with conspiracy to overturn 2020 US elections
Former United States (US) President Donald Trump was indicted on Tuesday for plotting to overturn his election defeat in the 2020 presidential elections. He is accused of four counts—conspiracy to defraud the US, tampering with a witness, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against the rights of citizens. He has been asked to appear in the federal court in Washington on Thursday.
Why does this story matter?
This marks Trump's third indictment within four months while he is campaigning for the 2024 presidential elections as a Republican nominee. The probe is focused on Trump's actions in the two-month period between his loss and his supporters rioting at the US Capitol as lawmakers certified the victory of President Joe Biden, a Democrat. He has denied any wrongdoing and called the case "ridiculous."
Indictment lists six unnamed co-conspirators
The 45-page indictment accuses Trump of a "conspiracy to impair, obstruct, and defeat the federal government function through dishonesty, fraud and deceit." It also lists six unnamed co-conspirators, including four lawyers, an official of the US Justice Department, and a political consultant.
Trump's allegations of voter fraud were false: Prosecutors
Prosecutors said Trump's allegations of voter fraud in 2020, which allegedly incited the riot at the US Capitol, were false and that he was aware of it. They added that he also unsuccessfully tried to convince Vice-President Mike Pence to block Biden's certification as president. Meanwhile, Trump's campaign has termed the recent indictment as election interference and a political witch hunt.
Ex-ICC junior investigator probing Trump
The US Justice Department has appointed Jack Smith, who earlier oversaw war crimes investigations at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, as special counsel to lead two separate criminal investigations against Trump. Smith has called the US Capitol attack "an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy." Trump, on the other hand, called Smith a "deranged" man leading a "political witch hunt."
Trump is accused of mishandling sensitive documents, falsifying business records
In other cases, he is charged with mishandling classified documents on nuclear capabilities that he took with him after leaving the White House. He will be tried for allegedly obstructing government efforts to reclaim the classified documents. He is also accused of falsifying business records to cover up paying $130,000 as hush money to pornstar Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential elections.
