Washington D.C. – U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith has concluded that former President Donald Trump engaged in an “unprecedented criminal effort” to retain power after his loss in the 2020 election. The findings were detailed in a report published on Tuesday, shedding light on the extensive measures allegedly taken by Trump to obstruct the democratic process.
The report outlines a four-count indictment against Trump, accusing him of plotting to obstruct the collection and certification of electoral votes following his defeat by President-elect Joe Biden. Despite what Smith describes as sufficient evidence to secure a conviction, the impending inauguration of Trump on January 20 made it impossible to bring the case to trial.
“The claim from Mr. Trump that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable,” Smith stated in a letter accompanying the report, defending the integrity of his investigation and his team amid relentless criticism from Trump.
In response, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, calling Smith a “lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the election.” His legal team echoed these sentiments in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, labeling the report a “politically motivated attack” and expressing concern that its release could harm the presidential transition.
The report also reveals that prosecutors contemplated charging Trump under the Insurrection Act for allegedly inciting the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. However, they ultimately decided against it due to legal complexities and insufficient evidence linking Trump to the full extent of the violence that occurred during the riot.
While the indictment includes charges of conspiring to obstruct the election certification, defrauding the United States of accurate election results, and depriving voters of their rights, Smith’s office indicated that charges against alleged co-conspirators remained unresolved. Several of Trump’s former attorneys have been identified as potential co-conspirators in the case.
A separate section of the report discusses allegations that Trump illegally retained sensitive national security documents after leaving office. This portion remains confidential pending ongoing legal proceedings against two of his associates.
Smith, who departed from the Justice Department last week, cited longstanding policy against prosecuting a sitting president as the reason for dropping both cases after Trump’s election victory. Neither case reached trial.
Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, Trump has consistently portrayed the investigations as partisan efforts to undermine his administration and political movement. His attempts, alongside those of his former co-defendants, to block the report’s release were unsuccessful, setting the stage for his return to the White House amid ongoing legal and political turbulence.
Reference(s):
Trump engaged in 'criminal effort' to overturn 2020 election: report
cgtn.com
