Prosecutors Say Trump Committed Crimes to Try to Change 2020 Election Results
According to BBC, prosecutors, led by Jack Smith, say Donald Trump broke the law to overturn his 2020 election loss. In a new court filing, they argue Trump should face charges because his actions were not part of his official duties as president.
Trump’s lawyers, however, say he’s protected by a recent Supreme Court ruling that gives immunity to actions done while in office. Prosecutors claim that Trump’s attempt to change the election results was a personal, illegal effort and not part of his job as president, BBC explains.
The filing was made public just before the upcoming election between Trump and Kamala Harris, giving the prosecution a chance to present their case against Trump before the trial starts, according to BBC.
Prosecutors pointed out that Trump wasn’t acting like a president but like a private citizen trying to change the election outcome, saying the court should treat him like anyone else who committed crimes.
The Department of Justice accused Trump of trying to stop the legal certification of Joe Biden’s win. They also say that Trump didn’t care when he learned that his vice-president, Mike Pence, was taken to a safe place during the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.
BBC highlights that Pence disagreed with Trump’s claims about election fraud and refused to block the certification, which led to a public fallout between the two.
According to the BBC, Trump’s lawyers tried to keep the filing secret, calling it unfair and unconstitutional. Trump himself called it a “hit job” and accused the prosecutors of wrongdoing.
The filing also accuses Trump of planning to declare victory no matter the election result, spreading lies about voter fraud, and trying to delay the election results certification by creating chaos, especially on January 6.
BBC mentions that Trump’s campaign allegedly asked his team to find reasons to challenge votes, particularly in areas like Detroit, Michigan, where Biden had strong support.
The case offers a clearer look at how prosecutors will present evidence at trial, and BBC adds that Trump still believes he will win the case completely. However, no trial date has been set yet.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93pdlg4dlno