A 165-page filing from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith was released laying out election subversion allegations against former President Donald Trump. Smith argues Trump doesn’t deserve immunity from criminal charges as his conduct was for personal gain, not public office duty. The filing accuses Trump of committing crimes to try to stay in office after losing the 2020 election. The case against Trump details four charges of conspiring to overturn the election and obstructing Congress, to which Trump has pleaded not guilty.
The filing alleges that Trump engaged in increasingly desperate criminal conduct, including lying to state officials, manufacturing fraudulent electoral votes, attempting to enlist Vice President Mike Pence to obstruct the certification of the election, and inciting the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. The filing also emphasizes Trump’s false claims of election fraud and his attempts to pressure Pence to alter the election results.
The case involves the question of whether Trump is immune to charges for conduct while he was president. The Supreme Court has ruled that former presidents are shielded from charges for official duties but not for private conduct, such as electioneering to stay in office. Trump’s lawyers criticized the lengthy filing as a “monstrosity” and a “false hit piece,” but the judge ruled that it was necessary to consider the case. Trump has until October 17 to formally reply to the allegations.
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