A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., has indicted Donald Trump for his role in the various aspects of the conspiracy to overthrow the results of the 2020 election and by implication American democracy itself, and remain in power. There are a half dozen co-conspirators, who were not named. Trump is due to be arraigned on Thursday.
The indictment was handed up by the grand jury that had been convened by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The grand jury has been meeting at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Court House.
Donald Trump in his Manhattan office. Photo by Bob Rozycki.
Under procedures at the Washington, D.C. federal court, the grand jury foreperson is required to carry an indictment voted in secret by the grand jury to a magistrate in a courtroom, and the indictment then becomes formally filed.
Trump was charged with conspiracy, interfering with the process of an official government action and other felonies. The alleged plot to overturn the election included a wide-ranging scheme to submit false slates of electors and forged documents to the government, pressure officials such as Vice President Mike Pence to ignore the true results of the election, and attempting to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory through the attack on the Capitol as a result of which five people died.
Prettyman Court House in Washington, D.C.
The indictment followed an announcement by Trump a few days ago that his lawyers had met with Special Counsel Smith on July 27 but were unsuccessful in convincing Smith not to move ahead with an indictment.
This is a developing story and will be updated with further details as they become available.
