Smith Special Counsel Points Out Trump’s Abuse of Political Influence
2020 Election Misconduct: “Would Have Been Punished If He Lost Last Year’s Election”
Additional Label Added Just Before Inauguration Following Felony Conviction in ‘Hush Money’ Case
The U.S. Department of Justice has released the special counsel's report on allegations that President-elect Donald Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
The report was made public on the 14th (local time), just one day after a U.S. court dismissed Trump’s request. Special Counsel Jack Smith stated in the report that there is sufficient evidence to prove Trump’s guilt.
Smith emphasized in the report, "The Department of Justice’s position that the Constitution prohibits the ongoing prosecution and punishment of a sitting president is clear," adding, "This does not change based on the seriousness of the charged crimes or the strength of the government’s evidence. The Department of Justice fully supports this prosecution."
He also added, "Aside from Mr. Trump’s election and imminent return to the presidency, the special counsel assessed that the evidence admissible in court could lead to a guilty verdict at trial."
The report, released shortly after midnight, is 137 pages long, representing half of the final report. The confidential document related to ongoing trials of other defendants was not disclosed.
Special Counsel Smith explained the reason for the indictment by stating that Trump made an "unprecedented criminal attempt to overturn the legitimate results of the election to maintain power."
The U.S. daily newspaper The New York Times (NYT) described the report as "an extraordinary criticism of President-elect Trump," noting that Smith’s statements recalled extensive evidence and detailed explanations of Trump’s actions.
According to the report, Trump not only tried to overturn the free and fair election results but also continuously incited "violence against opponents" for several weeks from the 2020 election day until the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
Smith cited criminal case evidence from those involved in the Capitol attack and placed responsibility on Trump. He stated that the participants in the Capitol attack acted on behalf of Trump.
He also mentioned the trauma such as "shell shock" (psychological trauma) experienced by Capitol police officers who were attacked during the incident, providing a detailed explanation of the violence. Notably, Trump’s declaration that he would pardon the main perpetrators of the January 6 incident was highlighted.
Smith also described the difficulties encountered during the investigation. He mentioned legal battles over presidential privilege and immunity, as well as exhausting lawsuits to prevent Trump from using his influence and followers online to intimidate witnesses.
In particular, Smith explained that Trump’s declaration of candidacy while a federal criminal investigation was ongoing posed a significant challenge, resulting in criminal law and general judicial procedures having to run concurrently with the election campaign.
The report’s release came the day after Judge Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida federal court dismissed Trump’s request.
Trump’s legal team reviewed the draft before the report’s release and criticized it as a "political attack aimed at obstructing the presidential transition."
Trump himself expressed his anger, posting on Truth Social, "Crazy Jack Smith showed how desperate he is by releasing fake investigation results at 1 a.m." He also criticized Smith as "a stupid prosecutor who couldn’t bring his case to trial before the election I overwhelmingly won."
Previously, Special Counsel Smith had investigated and indicted Trump on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results and illegal handling and leaking of classified documents. However, after Trump won the November election last year, the Department of Justice dropped both cases citing a policy against criminal prosecution of a sitting president. Nevertheless, Smith submitted a final report detailing the investigation.
Although Trump avoided indictment by the special counsel, he will take office carrying the label of a felon after being convicted in a 'hush money payment' sexual misconduct case. On the 10th, he was found guilty in the Manhattan Criminal Court of paying money and falsifying related accounting records to conceal allegations of sexual relations with a former adult film actress. However, the court sentenced him to "unconditional release" without any punishment.
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