Trump Indicted on Election Charges

A federal grand jury yesterday criminally indicted former President Donald Trump over his efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results.

The 45-page indictment (read here) charges Trump with four counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States (p. 3 to p. 42); conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding (p. 43); obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding (p. 44); and conspiracy against rights (p. 45). The indictment also lists and describes six unnamed individuals—four attorneys, one Justice Department official, and one political consultant—as co-conspirators, though they aren't charged (p. 3 to p. 4).

Among other details, the indictment recounts Trump's alleged attempts to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election results, as well as how Trump and his co-conspirators allegedly organized fraudulent electors in seven states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Trump is due in court tomorrow.

The case is the second against Trump from Special Counsel Jack Smith; the first being the Mar-a-Lago case, in which Trump faces 40 felony counts for mishandling classified documents. Trump denies any wrongdoing in both cases.

The federal election case is also different from a separate grand jury investigation into alleged 2020 election interference in Fulton County, Georgia. A decision is expected this month.