Politics

The indictment from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith charges Trump with four felony counts related to his efforts to undo his presidential election loss, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. The charges could lead to a yearslong prison sentence in the event of a conviction.

The former president was the only person charged in the case, though prosecutors referenced six unnamed co-conspirators, mostly lawyers, they say he plotted with, including in a scheme to enlist fake electors in seven battleground states won by Biden to submit false certificates to the federal government.

Not mentioned in the article: Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya has set Trump's next court appearance for August 28, 2023, just a few days after the upcoming Republican presidential primary debate. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan will preside over this next appearance, and she is expected to set the trial date then. Judge Upadhyaya told Trump and his legal team today that Judge Chutkan is willing to waive Trump’s appearance at the hearing so he doesn’t have to attend.