Donald Trump is facing accusations of trying to take advantage of the January 6th riot at the US Capitol to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
A detailed 165-page legal document from Special Counsel Jack Smith explains how Trump allegedly tried to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s win.
The filing offers insight into how the federal prosecutor would argue the case if it goes to trial, but this is uncertain since Trump might stop the prosecution if he returns to the White House.
The accusations focus on Trump’s actions after losing the election. BBC reports that, according to the document, Trump allegedly planned to claim victory even before all the votes were counted, knowing that early results might show him ahead, but mail-in votes would favor Biden.
The document also includes quotes from Trump’s aides, saying he dismissed some of the fraud claims made by his own allies, calling them “crazy,” yet he continued to push those false claims to challenge the election results.
A notable part of the filing involves Trump’s relationship with his then-Vice President Mike Pence. Pence is said to have urged Trump multiple times to accept the loss, even suggesting Trump run again in 2024.
However, Trump reportedly dismissed Pence’s advice, and during the Capitol riot, Trump supporters chanted for Pence to be hanged. The filing claims that when Trump was told Pence might be in danger, he allegedly responded, “So what?”
Another significant point in the document is the claim that Trump’s campaign staff intentionally created chaos in key battleground states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, trying to provoke unrest and interfere with the vote count.
The filing also alleges that Trump incited his supporters during a rally speech on January 6th, leading them to march to the Capitol, and that he watched the riot unfold without taking steps to stop it, despite requests from his advisers.
BBC’s coverage highlights how the special counsel’s filing emphasizes Trump’s role not just as a former president but as a private citizen seeking to disrupt the election process.
This shift in the legal argument comes after the Supreme Court ruled that Trump cannot be prosecuted for official acts he performed while in office .
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99v3397pdpo