Special counsel Jack Smith has charged Donald Trump in a superseding indictment in the ‘federal election interference case.’

“Today, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a superseding indictment, ECF No. 226, charging the defendant with the same criminal offenses that were charged in the original indictment,” a Justice Department spokesperson said, according to ABC News.

“The superseding indictment, which was presented to a new grand jury that had not previously heard evidence in this case, reflects the Government’s efforts to respect and implement the Supreme Court’s holdings and remand instructions,” the spokesperson added.

“A grand jury in Washington, DC has just returned a superseding indictment against President Trump with four charges, accusing him of attempting to ‘subvert the election.’ THIS IS MORE DEMOCRAT LAWFARE! What’s ACTUALLY being subverted here is the Supreme Court’s ruling granting presidential immunity,” journalist Nick Sortor commented.

Per ABC News:

Trump last August pleaded not guilty to federal charges of undertaking a “criminal scheme” to overturn the results of the 2020 election in an effort to subvert democracy and remain in power.

WATCH:

UncoverDC editor-in-chief Tracy Beanz called the superseding indictment “utterly ridiculous.”

NPR reports:

Prosecutor Molly Gaston, in a new court filing, said the Justice Department will not insist that Trump make an in-person appearance for arraignment on the new indictment. The Justice Department said it will confer with Trump’s lawyers and try to come up with a joint proposal for how to proceed in the case. Judge Tanya Chutkan had asked for an update by Friday.

Special Counsel Jack Smith has been consulting with other officials inside the Justice Department for weeks about the case, which accuses then President Trump of leading a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election and disenfranchise millions of voters. The scheme allegedly culminated in a cascade of violent attacks on police at the U.S. Capitol three years ago.

Trump has denied all charges. His lawyers have said Trump’s words and actions on and before Jan. 6, 2021, amounted to legitimate inquiry about possible election fraud. A conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court largely sided with Trump, giving the former president absolute immunity from prosecution for acts that are “core” to his official duties.

The high court ruling, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, specifically carved out part of the case where Trump had been accused of misusing the Justice Department to pursue phony theories of fraud at the ballot box. But the opinion left open many critical questions for a D.C. trial judge to pursue.

Chutkan asked lawyers for both Smith and Trump for guidance about how to proceed.

Read the superseding indictment HERE.

This story is developing. 

 

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