Former President Donald Trump announces he is running for president for the third time at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Donald Trump, the former president who exhorted his followers to “fight like hell” and march to the U.S. Capitol building as Congress was preparing to certify Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election, has been indicted for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The four-count indictment came down Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. It alleges that Trump “pursued unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting election results,” and in doing so, “perpetrated three criminal conspiracies.”
Those conspiracies, according to the indictment:
a. A conspiracy to defraud the United States by using dishonesty, fraud, and deceit to impair, obstruct, and defeat the lawful federal government function by with the results of the presidential election are collected, counted, and certified by the federal government, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371;
b. A conspiracy to corruptly obstruct and impede the January 6 congressional proceeding at which the collected results of the presidential election are counted and certified (“the certification proceeding”), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(k); and
c. A conspiracy against the right to vote and have one’s vote counted, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241.
Trump also faces one count of obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct, an official proceeding.
The most serious charges of obstruction and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding each carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Trump’s initial court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 3 at 4:00 p.m.
Read Related Also: 78-Year-Old Man With Dementia Missing in South Carolina
The investigation was headed by special prosecutor Jack Smith, appointed in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate whether Trump should be charged in connection with the riot, when scores of Trump supporters — many engaging in hand-to-hand combat — overwhelmed law enforcement to violently force their way inside the Capitol building. The breach forced Congress to pause its certification of the election results as lawmakers and staffers either evacuated the building or sheltered in place for hours.
A special House committee investigating the attack determined that Trump played a critical role in the riot and issued criminal referrals against him and implicated several of his allies.
Trump announced two weeks ago that his legal team had been advised that he is a target of Smith’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
The indictment marks the third criminal case to be filed against Trump since he left office. He is currently facing state charges in New York over alleged hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels. He has also been indicted on federal charges in Florida for allegedly storing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort and residence.
In addition, a grand jury in Georgia is reportedly considering whether to indict Trump on charges for allegedly trying to overturn Biden’s win in that state.
Read the indictment, below.
This is a developing story.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
