Trump’s 2020 Election Plot: Conviction Likely If Not for Re-Election, Report

US Special Counsel Jack Smith has released a detailed 130-page report accusing President-elect Donald Trump of engaging in “unprecedented criminal efforts” to retain power after losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden. The report outlines Trump’s attempts to overturn the election results, including deceitful claims of election fraud and efforts to obstruct the certification of votes.

Smith’s findings indicate that when Trump’s legal challenges to the election failed, he resorted to illegal tactics to stay in power. The report states that the foundation of Trump’s criminal conduct was built on “knowingly false claims of election fraud,” using these lies as a weapon to undermine the democratic process of the United States.

Legal Ramifications: Trump’s Attempts to Overturn Election Results

Smith’s report asserts that Trump tried to subvert the lawful process of certifying the election results. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Smith emphasised that Trump’s re-election victory in 2024 made pursuing a conviction impossible at this time. The legal opinion from the Justice Department suggests that former Presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for actions tied to official duties, which ultimately influenced the decision not to press charges.

Trump had pleaded not guilty to all charges related to the election interference, including conspiring to obstruct the election certification and depriving American voters of their voting rights. The report also considered charging Trump with inciting the January 6 Capitol riot but ultimately decided against it due to insufficient evidence.

Trump Slams Special Counsel and Legal Proceedings

After the report’s release, Trump vehemently criticised Jack Smith, calling him a “lamebrain prosecutor” who failed to prosecute before the election, which Trump claims he won in a “landslide.” Trump also suggested that Smith’s report was politically motivated and part of a broader effort to target his political campaign.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump further dismissed the report, alleging that the evidence against him had been destroyed by the “Unselect Committee of Political Hacks and Thugs,” attempting to exonerate him. Trump’s legal team echoed these sentiments, writing to Attorney General Merrick Garland, arguing that releasing the report was a “politically motivated attack” that could harm the presidential transition.

Trump’s Legal Future

Smith’s report also touches upon the ongoing investigation into Trump’s handling of sensitive national security documents after leaving the White House in 2021. However, details of this investigation were not made public, as legal proceedings are still underway against Trump’s associates. The report indicates that charges may have been warranted against some individuals involved in helping Trump with his alleged illegal actions, though no final conclusions have been reached.

The Justice Department’s policy against prosecuting a sitting president led Smith to drop both cases against Trump after he won the 2024 presidential election. As of now, neither case has proceeded to trial.

Trump’s critics argue that the findings in Smith’s report reflect a clear pattern of attempts to undermine the democratic process, while Trump and his legal team insist that the cases against him are politically driven and baseless. As legal proceedings continue, Trump’s path to the presidency remains marked by controversy and legal challenges.