Trump Faces Another Indictment in Election Interference Case
TL/DR –
Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a superseding indictment against former president Donald Trump, narrowing the allegations due to a Supreme Court ruling that grants immunity to former presidents for acts committed while in office. The indictment accuses Trump of resisting the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election, spreading false information about voter fraud, and pressuring former Vice President Mike Pence to undermine the election results. The new indictment brought with it renewed focus, but a source close to Trump’s legal team says they believe Smith’s case is flawed and should be dismissed.
Special Counsel Jack Smith refiles indictment against Donald Trump following the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling.
Special Counsel Jack Smith submitted a superseding indictment against former president Donald Trump in a federal election interference case on Tuesday. The 36-page document accuses Trump of resisting the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election, which President Joe Biden definitely won.
The indictment refines allegations against Trump, bringing the case into sharper focus following the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling last month. Smith’s team stated in a separate filing that a new grand jury returned the superseding indictment.
A source close to Trump’s legal team stated: “This was expected. This is the government’s response to the Supreme Court ruling. We maintain our stance that Smith’s case is flawed and should be dismissed.”
In the immunity case, the Supreme Court concluded that the former presidents have wide legal protections from charges for alleged acts committed while in office, thus making Trump immune from prosecution for some of the acts alleged in Smith’s original 45-page document.
In the superseding indictment, Smith argues that Trump and his allies spread false information about voter fraud and assembled false electors, resulting in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, which led to five deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The former president was originally charged with four felony counts in this case. However, Tuesday’s indictment limited the evidence and removed an “unnamed conspirator.”
The new indictment repeats allegations that Trump tried to involve then-Vice President Mike Pence in his scheme to overturn the election, but excludes some discussions between the two. The indictment now also omits the former president’s discussions with White House lawyers about the 2020 election’s integrity.
The former president has pleaded not guilty to all 91 charges across four indictments. It appears unlikely that these cases will reach court before November’s election.
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