A federal grand jury has indicted Donald Trump on four charges. According to former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori, the prosecutors are aiming to demonstrate that the case is not solely focused on Jan. 6, but also includes an alleged long-term effort that was “complicated” and “extensive” in its attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
“Based on the charges and the fact that Jan. 6 is not mentioned until deep into the indictment, it appears that the prosecutors do not have compelling evidence linking Trump to any violence, planning, or coordination of the riot on that day,” Khardori stated during an appearance on “The Hill on NewsNation.”
He further commented, “For those who take issue with this effort, they believe it was a very convoluted, complicated, and extensive endeavor that spanned a couple of months.”
Federal prosecutors allege that Trump’s “knowingly false claims” created an atmosphere of “mistrust and anger” that harmed the public’s confidence in the 2020 election.
“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,” reads the indictment. “These claims were false, and the Defendant knew that they were false.”
Trump’s campaign referred to the indictment as the “latest chapter in the continued pathetic attempt by the Biden Crime Family and their weaponized Department of Justice to interfere with the 2024 Presidential Election.”
The former president now faces the following charges: one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count each of obstructing an official proceeding and conspiring to do so, and one count of conspiracy against rights.
These charges come after the House Jan. 6 Committee concluded its investigation into the Capitol riot by recommending charges against Trump. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.