Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a grand jury over the events leading up to and that took place on January 6, 2021.
Trump was indicted on four counts —Conspiracy to Defaud the United States, Conspiracy to Obstruct an Official Proceeding, Obstruction and Attempt to Obstruct an Official Proceeding, and Conspiracy Against Rights.
“The purpose of the conspiracy was to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election by using knowingly false claims of election fraud to obstruct the government function by which those results are collected, counted and certified,” the indictment from special counsel Jack Smith’s office said.
“Shortly after election day, the Defendant also pursued unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting the election results,” the indictment claims.
The indictment also lists six unnamed unindicted co-conspirators. 6 unindicted co-conspirators pic.twitter.com/GfU9suwfXN
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) August 1, 2023
The Trump campaign responded with a statement alleging that the indictment is part of a plot to keep him from returning to the White House.
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) August 1, 2023
"This is nothing more than the latest corrupt chapter in the continued pathetic attempt by the Biden Crime Family and their weaponized Department of Justice to interfere with the 2024 Presidential Election, in which President Trump is the undisputed frontrunner, and leading by substantial margins," the former president said.
"But why did they wait two and a half years to bring these fake charges, right in the middle of President Trump's winning campaign for 2024?" the campaign asked. "Why was it announced the day after the big Crooked Joe Biden scandal broke out from the halls of Congress?"
The campaign statement continued, "The answer is, election interference! The lawlessness of these persecutions of President Trump and his supporters is reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the former Soviet Union, and other authoritarian, dictatorial regimes. President Trump has always followed the law and the Constitution, with advice frrom many highly accomplished attorneys."
The campaign asserted that these "witch hunts" will fail and that Trump will be re-elected.
"President Trump will not be deterred by disgraceful and unprecedented political targeting!" Trump's campaign concluded.
Last month, the Department of Justice indicted Trump on seven counts related to handling classified documents.
It marked the first time that a former president has faced federal charges.
In April, the Manhattan district attorney charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Trump is currently the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
