Federal prosecutors have charged Donald Trump with conspiring to seize a second term after losing the 2020 election, alleging a sweeping campaign of deceit and abuses that threatened the foundations of American democracy.
In a 45-page indictment unveiled Tuesday, special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump with four felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.
“Despite having lost, the Defendant was determined to remain in power,” the indictment said. “So for more than two months following election day on November 3, 2020, the Defendant spread lies that there had been outcome-determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won. These claims were false, and the Defendant knew that they were false.”
