Prosecutors Accuse Trump of Criminal Plot to Overturn 2020 Election in New Court Filing
Prosecutors have claimed that Donald Trump resorted to criminal actions in his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, according to a newly filed court document. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed to lead the investigation into Trump’s alleged election interference, filed the document, which was made public on Wednesday.
The court filing aims to counter Trump’s argument that he is protected from prosecution by a Supreme Court decision granting immunity for official actions taken while in office. However, prosecutors argue that Trump’s actions, in part, fall outside his presidential duties and represent a private attempt to overturn the election.
Prosecutors stress that some of Trump’s alleged efforts to block President Joe Biden’s victory were linked to his campaign and private life, rather than his official capacity. “The defendant must be tried for his private crimes just like any other citizen,” wrote Smith in the 165-page document.
This filing is seen as a crucial opportunity for prosecutors to lay out their case before the upcoming election, as no trial is set to begin before Trump faces Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the next month’s election.
Prosecutors claim that Trump had long intended to declare victory, regardless of the actual outcome, and knowingly spread false claims about widespread voter fraud. The filing includes instances where Trump’s Vice President, Mike Pence, questioned Trump’s voter fraud assertions and urged him to accept the loss. It also highlights Trump’s indifference when informed that rioters storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021, had forced Pence into a secure location, allegedly responding with, “So what?”
The document further accuses Trump and his team of attempting to exploit the chaos on January 6 to delay the certification process by lobbying senators to challenge the results. Giuliani, Trump’s attorney at the time, is also implicated in these efforts.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the filing as a “hit job” in a post on his Truth Social platform, calling it unconstitutional and accusing the prosecutors of misconduct. His legal team had unsuccessfully sought to keep the document sealed.
Despite the lack of a trial date, the filing provides new evidence and a clearer picture of how prosecutors plan to present their case, accusing Trump of orchestrating efforts to undermine the election long before votes were even cast.
