Indictment includes six co-conspirators
The indictment lists six co-conspirators but does not name them. They are:
-
Co-Conspirator 1: An attorney who was willing to spread knowingly false claims and pursue strategies that the Defendant’s 2020 re-election campaign attorneys would not.
-
Co-Conspirator 2: An attorney who devised and attempted to implement a strategy to leverage the Vice President’s ceremonial role overseeing certification proceeding to obstruct the certification of the presidential election.
-
Co-Conspirator 3: An attorney whose unfounded claims of election fraud the Defendant privately acknowledged to others sounded “crazy.” Nonetheless, the Defendant embraced and publicly amplified Co-Conspirator 3’s disinformation.
-
Co-Conspirator 4: A Justice Department official who worked on civil matters and who, with the Defendant, attempted to use the Justice Department to open sham election crime investigations and influence state legislatures with knowingly false claims of election fraud.
-
Co-Conspirator 5: An attorney who assisted in devising and attempting to implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceeding.
-
Co-Conspirator 6: A political consultant who helped implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceeding.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins writes that the co-conspirator 1 will likely be Rudy Giuliani, who served as Trump’s attorney at the time in the wake of his 2020 presidential election loss.
While he is not named and has not gotten a target letter yet, it is clear Rudy Giuliani is co-conspirator 1 in the indictment, given it cites a conversation Rusty Bowers had with Giuliani, including having no evidence but "lots of theories."
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 1, 2023n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/1686494649563623424″,”id”:”1686494649563623424″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”6e4a8337-16b9-46b3-9c1b-336f98b6054a”}}”>
While he is not named and has not gotten a target letter yet, it is clear Rudy Giuliani is co-conspirator 1 in the indictment, given it cites a conversation Rusty Bowers had with Giuliani, including having no evidence but “lots of theories.”
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 1, 2023
Politico’s Kyle Cheney writes that the second co-conspirator appears to be John Eastman, who was in the vanguard of lawyers plotting schemes involving “fake electors” and other ploys to help Trump thwart Joe Biden’s win in 2020.
Coconspirator 5 appears to be Ken Chesebro pic.twitter.com/fOdPbFECVK
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) August 1, 2023n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1686495289023025153″,”id”:”1686495289023025153″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”043d1b1c-1aa7-4f61-8914-bbd00f2f4b44″}}”>
“,”elementId”:”5c368138-0016-4dcd-b88d-6b5545140da8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump faces four charges
“,”elementId”:”b95a0e8a-c361-48a2-ad43-5511c091e82f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The former president is accused of conspiring to defraud the United States government, conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiring against rights, and obstruction and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding.
“,”elementId”:”af2d9e72-5702-48a9-9f94-03b19c4b652a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
In the 45-page indictment, prosecutors laid out their case in stark detail, alleging Trump knowingly spread false allegations about fraud, convened false slates of electors and attempted to block the certification of the election on January 6.
“,”elementId”:”e52a43c4-249f-4b17-a166-7c76537aafe1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The former president was “determined to remain in power”
“,”elementId”:”070d3866-4d57-4238-b2fa-7004c8a7759c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Federal prosecutors said Trump was “determined to remain in power”. Prosecutors said that for two months after his election loss, Trump spread lies to create an “intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger” and “erode public faith in the administration of the election”. They cited an example in Georgia, where Trump claimed more than 10,000 dead people voted in four days even after the state’s top elections official told him that was not true.
“,”elementId”:”29d20076-e613-4711-96bc-e8d83ae8c8d2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
There are six un-indicted co-conspirators
“,”elementId”:”cd406304-ba77-43bc-80c1-479f7bdbf6ec”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The indictment included six un-indicted co-conspirators as part of Smith’s inquiry, including four unnamed attorneys who allegedly aided Trump in his effort to subvert the 2020 election results, as well as an unnamed justice department official and an unnamed political consultant.
“,”elementId”:”32878e37-8948-47a6-8b37-25f3da6ccea1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
While unnamed in the document, the details in the indictment indicate that those people include Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman and Jeff Clark, a former Department of Justice employee.
“,”elementId”:”63e50bcd-da87-4bb3-beed-a6547af840cb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The special counsel wants a speedy trial
“,”elementId”:”54ccf7e8-52c4-4a71-8a35-7a18dddec8d3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
It’s unclear yet when the case will go to trial, but Jack Smith said his office will seek speedy proceedings.
“,”elementId”:”e7c52c1d-24e7-4f6f-b252-ced2d5db0e8e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“I must emphasize that the indictment is only an allegation and that the defendant must be presumed innocent until proven guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt, in a court of law,” Smith said in a press conference on Tuesday.
“,”elementId”:”b96cf36e-4104-41f8-80e1-1b0b5b17f5b0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump is looking at a complicated calendar for 2024. The former president’s trial in New York on criminal charges over hush money payments to the porn star Stormy Daniels will begin in March 2024. His criminal trial in Florida for retaining national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago property and obstructing the justice department’s efforts to retrieve them will take place in May 2024. The Iowa caucuses, the opening salvo in the Republican race for the 2024 presidential nomination, are scheduled to take place in January.
“,”elementId”:”1febee8e-6df5-4d91-9880-c60ab3295c0e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Indictments won’t disqualify Trump from office
“,”elementId”:”a744c848-e302-4214-8a80-c24a40ba1534″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump’s indictments will not bar him from seeking the presidency again, nor will any conviction.
“,”elementId”:”a202791b-47da-4858-acba-c17e835ea729″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
However, it would be highly unusual for a thrice-indicted candidate to win the Republican presidential nomination. The only other presidential nominee to run under indictment in recent history is former Texas governor Rick Perry, who sought the 2016 Republican nomination after he was indicted for abuse of power. Another candidate, socialist party candidate Eugene Debs ran while imprisoned.
“,”elementId”:”4ceee611-065f-4471-89c5-05d1a3597905″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Trump’s indictment follows a path that the House January 6 committee laid.
“,”elementId”:”6823e8e9-8aa7-49b1-a0d2-de5738350939″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The congressional panel, which was created to investigate the January 6 insurrection, concluded last December recommending criminal charges. In public hearings, some held at prime time, the investigators aired dramatic and damning footage, making the case that Trump “was directly responsible for summoning what became a violent mob” despite understanding that he’d lost the election.
“,”elementId”:”89f71b8e-1256-4755-bf96-3c78f04d5f77″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The justice department received what the committee had uncovered, but conducted its own interviews and using its authority to gain key evidence that wasn’t easily accessible to Congress. The final charges against Trump include ones that the committee had recommended, including conspiracy to defraud the United States.
“,”elementId”:”20f21750-431a-498d-a3ea-e7ccb341a3ec”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
– Léonie Chao-Fong and Maanvi Singh
“,”elementId”:”cfb6406f-9beb-4d49-9408-8da1d7d20e64″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/01/trump-indicted-reaction-key-takeaways”,”text”:”Donald Trump’s January 6 indictment: five key takeaways”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”3a0b3635-082c-4916-a377-b05873c3358d”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1690939895000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”21.31 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1690941119000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”21.51 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1690940716000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”21.45 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”21.45″,”title”:”Recap”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 1 Aug 2023 21.51 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 1 Aug 2023 09.05 EDT”},{“id”:”64c9a4f98f089238fc2e1a63″,”elements”:[{[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Twice impeached, twice arrested and now indicted three times. Donald Trump faces serious charges in New York and Florida over a hush-money scheme during the 2016 election and his alleged mishandling of classified documents. And he faces an indictment by the justice department over his effort to overturn the 2020 election.
“,”elementId”:”9ba756bc-e5f9-43d1-9867-16f2f90347d3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
As Trump prepares for those cases to go to trial, the former president is simultaneously reeling from a verdict that found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation toward writer E Jean Carroll. A New York jury awarded Carroll, who accused Trump of assaulting her in 1996, $5m in damages.
“,”elementId”:”f393e7b6-c48a-4b71-b8df-6f968cf6319d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
And more criminal charges could be on the way for Trump in Georgia. Here is where each case against Trump stands:
“,”elementId”:”5518846d-d9d7-4047-a397-60ae1395468f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/28/donald-trump-investigations-criminal-charges-tracker”,”text”:” Donald Trump case tracker: where does each investigation stand?”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”3cd85fee-2ab2-4c0e-91e2-f74994455dd1″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1690936569000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”20.36 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1690938617000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”21.10 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1690936607000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”20.36 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”20.36″,”title”:”Donald Trump case tracker: where does each investigation stand?”,”contributors”:[{[{“name”:”Joan E Greve”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/05/25/Joan_Greve.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8fb2a7cdd798189ef4e496b912c21db0″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/05/25/Joan_Greve.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d282ed49d456148cb21b98feb83c79b7″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 1 Aug 2023 21.51 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 1 Aug 2023 09.05 EDT”},{“id”:”64c99c878f083f2fac7d6d31″,”elements”:[{[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Donald Trump has been charged with conspiring to defraud the United States, conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, obstructing a congressional proceeding and conspiracy against rights in connection with an alleged a plan to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
“,”elementId”:”e9086731-234e-42c5-9437-42bc3330b6ec”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
What does that mean? The first charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, while the second and third could be punished with 20 years. The conspiracy against rights carries a 10 year sentence.
“,”elementId”:”bc90e325-f745-4b1c-bf81-569e623bda5e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
However, there are no minimum or mandatory sentences for the charges. If Trump is found guilty, he could be sentenced to serve consecutive terms – which would mean decades in prison – but in general, federal penalties are rarely as h