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Donald Trump has been charged with four felony counts over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
BBC News reported that the former leader has been summoned to appear in court in Washington DC before a judge on Thursday (August 3) for his efforts to block a peaceful transfer of power.
The Justice Department has charged the 77-year-old on conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
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According to the 45-page indictment, handed over by a federal grand jury in Washington DC, it accuses the Republican of repeatedly lying about election results, disseminating false allegations about fraud, convening false slates of electors and exploiting the violence of the January 6 riots to remain in office while delaying the certification of Joe Biden’s victory.
Special Counsel Jack Smith was appointed to oversee investigations into Trump’s charges.
Smith is no stranger to Trump’s federal indictments, as he and his counsel are already investigating Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents in Florida.
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However, Trump has characterized Smith as a ‘deranged’ man and dubbed charges against him as a political ‘witch hunt’.
The indictment marks the first time a former or current US president has faced criminal charges for trying to overturn a fair and democratic election.
“This is one of the worst things any American president has ever done,” said Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University’s School of Law, as per The Guardian.
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“The magnitude of the indictment matches the magnitude of what Trump tried to do, which is to overthrow the constitutional system to stay in office.”
Trump has since issued a statement denying his involvement and maintaining his innocence.
“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,” he said in part.
Trump is also charged for allegedly paying adult entertainment actor Stormy Daniels hush money in 2016.
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In September, New York Attorney General Letitia James launched the $250 million lawsuit against Trump, his organization and his family.
Topics: News, Politics, Crime, Donald Trump