In a startling development, U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith has concluded that former President Donald Trump engaged in an “unprecedented criminal effort” to retain power after losing the 2020 election. According to a report published on Tuesday, Smith’s investigation detailed Trump’s alleged attempts to obstruct the collection and certification of votes following his defeat by Democratic President Joe Biden.
The report outlines Smith’s decision to bring a four-count indictment against Trump, accusing him of plotting to undermine the democratic process. Despite possessing evidence that Smith believed would secure a conviction at trial, the Special Counsel was unable to proceed due to Trump’s imminent return to the presidency on January 20. Citing a longstanding Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president, Smith dropped both cases against Trump after he won last year’s election.
“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 wrote in a letter detailing his report. Smith, who left the Justice Department last week, defended his investigation and the prosecutors who worked alongside him amidst relentless criticism from Trump.
Trump responded to the report on his Truth Social platform, calling Smith a “lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the election.” His lawyers argued that releasing the report ahead of Trump’s return to the White House would harm the presidential transition, labeling it a “politically motivated attack.”
The report also reveals that prosecutors considered charging Trump under the Insurrection Act for inciting the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Ultimately, they determined that such a charge posed legal risks and that there was insufficient evidence to prove Trump intended the full scope of violence that occurred during the riot—a failed attempt by a mob of his supporters to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 election results.
The indictment charged Trump with conspiring to obstruct the election certification, defraud the United States of accurate election results, and deprive U.S. voters of their voting rights. While Smith’s office believed charges may have been justified against some co-conspirators who assisted Trump, no final conclusions were reached regarding their prosecution.
Efforts by Trump and his associates to block the release of the report were unsuccessful. Courts rebuffed their demands to prevent its publication, allowing the details of the investigation to come to light just days before Trump’s scheduled return to office on January 20.
The unfolding events have stirred significant attention both domestically and internationally, raising questions about the integrity of democratic institutions and the rule of law. Global observers are closely monitoring the situation, considering the potential ramifications for international relations, including ties with nations across Asia. As Trump prepares to assume office once again, the implications of Smith’s report may have lasting impacts on the political landscape and governance in the United States.
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Trump engaged in 'criminal effort' to overturn 2020 election: report
cgtn.com
