Former President Donald Trump Indicted on Charges of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Obstruction of an Official Proceeding

A grand jury in Washington D.C. has returned an indictment against former President Donald Trump, charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. The charges stem from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s attempts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Smith said the indictment was a result of Trump’s “months of lies and baseless legal efforts which culminated in the violent storm at the Capitol building on January 6.” He added that the attack on the Capitol was “fueled by lies” and “an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy.”

The 45-page indictment details the charges against Trump, which include conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. Smith said that Trump’s lies targeted at obstructing the U.S. government’s process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the presidential election.

Trump is the only President in U.S. history to refuse to accept his loss and attempt to use the forces of the government to stay in power. Smith said the indictment is a reminder that “no one is above the law.”

The charges against Trump come after years of legal battles and political turmoil. The outcome of the case remains to be seen, but the charges are a reminder that the U.S. government will not tolerate attempts to subvert the democratic process.