Trump Faces Revised Election Interference Charges

0:00

/1861

1×

Facts

• Special counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday filed a new version of the indictment accusing former Pres. Donald Trump of scheming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.^[1]
• The new filing removed some charges — including allegations Trump attempted to influence the Justice Department to back his false allegations of election fraud — in order to coexist with a recent US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling that granted presidents broad immunity for official acts.^[1]
• The updated indictment was issued by a new Washington, DC grand jury, which hadn't previously heard evidence in this case. The special counsel's office in a statement said the filing 'reflects the Government's efforts to respect and implement' SCOTUS' immunity decision.^[2]
• Trump is still being charged with the four crimes — conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, attempting to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights — from the original indictment. But the charges now center on his role as a political candidate rather than a president.^[3]
• Trump reacted to the indictment in several social media posts, demanding the charges be dropped 'immediately.' He also referred to Smith being illegally appointed, which was the decision of a judge who earlier this month dismissed Trump's classified documents case.^[4]
• US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who set the next hearing in this case for Sept. 5, expects to receive proposals on how to proceed with the case from both sides by Friday.^[5]

Sources: ^[1]New York Times, ^[2]Associated Press, ^[3]BBC News, ^[4]CBS and ^[5]Politico.

Narratives

• Democratic narrative, as provided by Atlantic. Trump must be held accountable for his attempts to overturn the results of the election, and Smith seems undeterred by SCOTUS' vague ruling over immunity for official acts. While it's still shameful that SCOTUS ruled the way it did in that case, at least Smith is showing that Trump's crimes sit outside of his presidential role.
• Republican narrative, as provided by PJ Media. A judge ruled Smith was unconstitutionally hired and SCOTUS has ruled Trump is immune from prosecution for his official acts, yet nothing seems able to stop Smith from carrying out his Democrat-mandated election interference agenda. This case has no chance of being heard before the election, but Democrats are hoping any bit of interference will help them.

Predictions