Former US President Donald Trump faces a revised federal indictment focussing on his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team narrowed the charges after a Supreme Court ruling granted former presidents broad immunity for actions taken in their official capacity.
The updated indictment, filed in Washington, D.C., retains the original four charges but emphasises Trump’s role as a candidate seeking re-election, rather than his actions as president. This shift aims to address the Supreme Court’s July 1st decision, which established presumptive immunity for actions within a president’s constitutional powers.
Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, arguing the Supreme Court’s ruling should lead to the entire case being dismissed. “Smith rewrote the exact same case in an effort to circumvent the Supreme Court Decision,” he stated. Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing, claiming the charges are politically motivated attempts to prevent his return to power.
The revised indictment alleges a multi-part conspiracy to obstruct the certification of Biden’s victory. This includes allegations that Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject electoral votes from contested states during the January 6th congressional proceedings. The indictment highlights that Trump, as a candidate, “had no official responsibilities related to the certification proceeding, but he did have a personal interest as a candidate in being named the winner of the election.”
The updated document removes allegations related to Trump’s pressure on the Justice Department, seemingly in response to the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling. References to Jeffrey Clark and former Attorney General Bill Barr, who allegedly disputed Trump’s claims of voter fraud, have also been removed.
Legal experts suggest the revisions reflect the Justice Department’s efforts to narrow the case’s scope and comply with the Supreme Court’s decision. The revised indictment relies heavily on testimony from non-governmental witnesses, like former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who allegedly faced pressure from Trump to challenge the election results.
This case, one of four criminal prosecutions against Trump, has been delayed while the immunity issue was addressed. The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision, with a conservative majority including three Trump-appointed justices, shaped the revised indictment.
The revised indictment comes ahead of a Friday deadline for both parties to propose a way forward in the case.
(Source: Reuters)
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