US special investigator files new charges against Trump in January 6 case

US Special Counsel Jack Smith filed new charges on Tuesday in the federal criminal case against former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, after the Supreme Court granted Trump broad immunity from prosecution based on his “official” conduct as president.

The new indictment drops some specific charges against Trump, but leaves the four counts unchanged, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.

The indictment accuses the former president of masterminding a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election and disenfranchise millions of voters, a plan that allegedly led to a series of violent attacks on police at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Court records show that the defendant used his campaign to “repeat and widely disseminate” false claims of voter fraud “in order to make his knowingly false claims appear legitimate, create an atmosphere of distrust and anger across the country, and undermine public confidence in the administration of the election.”

Trump has repeatedly denied all allegations. Trump's lawyers argued that the former president's words and actions on and before January 6, 2021, amounted to a legitimate investigation into possible election fraud.

Trump's team had previously rejected the charges, citing presidential immunity and arguing that a president enjoys absolute immunity from criminal prosecution.

On July 1, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled by a conservative 6-3 majority that Trump enjoys immunity for actions he took in his “official” capacity as president. The court also ordered lower courts to re-evaluate the case and determine which allegations cannot be prosecuted.

“In an apparent attempt to downplay any connection between Trump's conduct and his official duties, the new indictment repeatedly emphasizes the political and personal nature of many of Trump's actions in the post-election period and on January 6, 2021,” Politico said in a report.

Despite recent efforts, this case is unlikely to go to trial before the November 5 presidential election. If Trump wins, he could instruct his Justice Department appointees to dismiss the case.