Former US President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, announced on Tuesday that he expects to be charged in connection with the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. This indictment would further complicate his legal situation as he embarks on another White House bid.
Special counsel Jack Smith has already filed criminal charges against Trump for mishandling top-secret government documents after leaving office. However, Trump revealed that he received a letter from Smith indicating that he is now a target of the investigation into the January 6 incident, during which Trump supporters stormed Congress in an attempt to prevent the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to criticize the prosecutor and label the investigation as a witch hunt and a political weaponization of law enforcement. While the specific charges against Trump are unclear at this time, a target letter does not necessarily indicate that charges will be brought.
Trump had delivered a passionate speech prior to the Capitol attack, encouraging the crowd to “fight like hell.” Smith has been investigating January 6 and Trump’s other endeavors to overturn the 2020 election. Testimony has already been heard from several individuals close to Trump.
It is reported that Trump’s advisors expect him to refuse appearing before the January 6 grand jury, which has already amassed a significant amount of evidence. Over 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the Capitol attack, facing charges ranging from unlawful entry to assaulting law enforcement officers.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who is also seeking the 2024 Republican nomination, referred to a potential indictment as a distraction. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy accused President Joe Biden of utilizing the justice system to target his main opponent, while Democratic Representative Adam Schiff criticized McCarthy’s statements as providing cover for a corrupt former president.
In addition to the ongoing investigation related to January 6, Georgia prosecutors are examining whether Trump made illegal attempts to overturn the election outcome in the state. Trump maintains that he has the right to protest what he believes was a rigged and stolen election.
Trump has already been indicted for alleged retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, making false statements, and other offenses. Prosecutors have proposed a December start for the trial, while Trump’s defense team has requested a delay until after the November 2024 White House election.
Trump has pleaded not guilty in a separate case in New York involving hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels, a porn star who claimed to have had an affair with him prior to the 2016 election.