(DailyVantage.com) – Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed a new indictment against former President Trump, targeting his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. This move comes after a Supreme Court ruling that gives former presidents immunity for official actions taken while in office.
The new indictment keeps many of the original charges but changes some details. It removes claims that Trump tried to use the Department of Justice to reverse his loss in the election. This change follows the Supreme Court’s decision, which said Trump cannot be prosecuted for acts done while he was president. However, the charges still focus on allegations that Trump and his team tried to use fake electors to make it seem like he won key states, even though those states were won by Joe Biden. Trump is also accused of pressuring then-Vice President Mike Pence to block the certification of electoral votes.
The charges against Trump remain serious: conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against citizens’ rights. Trump has denied all charges, pleading not guilty.
The indictment has dropped references to Trump’s conversations with top Department of Justice officials, including Jeffrey Clark, who had supported Trump’s false election claims. Originally, Clark was considered for attorney general, but that plan was abandoned when other DOJ officials threatened to resign.
Trump responded to the indictment by criticizing the legal system, calling it politically motivated. He claimed that this was an attempt to interfere with the 2024 election and accused his political opponents, including Vice President Kamala Harris, of using the system against him. He expressed confidence that he would win the election while calling the indictment politically motivated.
The updated indictment was presented to a new grand jury, which had not heard the case before. Legal experts believe that this new development may not change the timeline, making it unlikely that the case will go to trial before the 2024 election due to the legal complexities.
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