Former President Donald Trump was hit with four serious federal charges on Thursday, signaling one of the most consequential legal battles in U.S. history. The indictment accuses Trump of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction and attempted obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy to violate constitutional rights. These charges revolve around his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and interfere with the peaceful transfer of power.
Prosecutors allege that Trump, alongside unnamed co-conspirators, orchestrated a coordinated plan to mislead the public, pressure state officials, and manipulate government processes to retain power despite losing the election. The indictment outlines events from November 2020 through January 2021, highlighting repeated claims of widespread voter fraud that investigators say were made without evidence—even after Trump was repeatedly informed by advisers, state authorities, and federal agencies that no such fraud occurred. These claims, prosecutors argue, formed the basis for a broader campaign to disrupt the constitutional process.
Central to the indictment is Trump’s alleged attempt to block Congress from certifying the Electoral College results on January 6, 2021. Prosecutors describe a chain of communications and actions intended to delay or halt certification, including pressure campaigns targeting state legislators, election officials, and even the Vice President. The government argues this was not merely political strategy but a deliberate attempt to obstruct the democratic process.
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