Special Counsel Smith's report reveals Trump’s attempts to disrupt the 2020 election, culminating in the Capitol riot.(photo/Reuters)
WASHINGTON, (EPICSTORIAN) – U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith has delivered a ‘damning’ report, accusing former President Donald Trump of orchestrating a “criminal effort” to cling to power after losing the 2020 presidential election.
Smith’s investigation revealed that Trump’s actions— allegedly designed to obstruct the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory—constituted unprecedented attempts to undermine the democratic process.
However, these efforts were thwarted when Trump’s electoral defeat was followed by Biden’s win, blocking the case from proceeding to trial.
Smith’s report, released on Tuesday, outlined the four-count indictment against Trump, charging him with conspiring to obstruct the electoral process and defraud the United States.
This decision was influenced by the substantial evidence gathered, which Smith argued would have been sufficient for a conviction had the trial proceeded, Reuters reporter said. However, the looming transition of power on January 20, 2021, prevented the timely prosecution of Trump.
Jack Smith Dismissed Trump’s Claims as Laughable
Despite facing ongoing criticism from Trump, Smith strongly defended his investigation, affirming the integrity of the process. In his report, Smith addressed accusations that his actions were politically motivated, dismissing them as “laughable.”
He wrote: “The claim from Mr. Trump that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable.”
Trump quickly responded to the report, taking to his Truth Social platform to label Smith a “lamebrain prosecutor” who failed to bring the case to trial before the election.
His legal team echoed this sentiment, issuing a public letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland denouncing the report as a “politically-motivated attack” intended to hinder Trump’s potential return to the White House.
Though much of the evidence in the report had previously been made public, it contained new insights, particularly regarding the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection.
Prosecutors had considered charging Trump with inciting the attack under the Insurrection Act. Ultimately, however, they determined there was insufficient evidence to prove that Trump intended for the violence that ensued.
Despite this, the indictment charges Trump with conspiring to obstruct the certification of the 2020 election results and to deprive American voters of their right to vote.
While the report focuses primarily on Trump’s efforts to subvert the election results, it also highlights the involvement of his former legal advisors, who have been identified as co-conspirators in the case.
The investigation further noted that charges could have been filed against these individuals for their role in helping Trump advance his plan.
In a separate section, Smith’s report also delves into Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified national security documents after leaving office in 2021. This segment, however, has not been made public, as legal proceedings continue against two of Trump’s associates in the case.
Despite the mounting legal challenges, Trump remains steadfast in his innocence, regularly dismissing Smith’s efforts as politically motivated. He has also sought to block the report’s release, fearing it could jeopardize his comeback attempt.
Courts, however, rejected these efforts, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon halting plans for congressional review of the document-related portion of the investigation, at least temporarily.
The legal battles surrounding Trump’s actions post-election have been subject to intense scrutiny. Previous court filings and a 2022 congressional panel report have provided extensive documentation of Trump’s efforts to overturn the election, including spreading false claims of widespread voter fraud, pressuring state officials to alter vote results, and attempting to use fraudulent electors in states won by Biden.
This ultimately culminated in the violent January 6 Capitol riot, as Trump supporters stormed Congress in a last-ditch attempt to disrupt the certification of Biden’s win. The findings from both Smith’s investigation and the congressional committee confirm that Trump’s actions were integral to the events of that day.
Legal complexities surrounding Trump’s actions have been a central theme of this case, with delays linked to his claim of immunity as a sitting president. The conservative majority of the Supreme Court largely sided with Trump on this matter, granting former presidents broader immunity from prosecution.
Independent observers have constantly expressed concerns that as the nation braces for Trump’s return to office after January 20 scheduled inauguration, the fallout from his 2020 election subversion attempts continues to evolve.
With both criminal and civil cases pending, the political and legal ramifications of these efforts will shape the future of U.S. democracy for years to come, a legal expert said.
