Official announcements from the Department of Justice or related legal entities

Judge Unseals Prosecutors' 165-Page Motion Alleging Trump's Crimes to Overturn 2020 Election

Oct 2, 2024, 07:49 PM

Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed a newly unsealed 165-page motion in the federal election interference case against former President Donald Trump, outlining allegations of Trump's "increasingly desperate" efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The document, unsealed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, argues that Trump is not immune to prosecution in the District of Columbia election case. Prosecutors allege that following his defeat, Trump "resorted to crimes" in a bid to remain in power, using deceit to target every stage of the electoral process. The filing includes claims that Trump told advisers he planned to declare victory before all ballots were counted if preliminary results showed him leading. Additionally, a White House staffer allegedly overheard Trump telling family members that "it didn't matter if he won or lost the election, 'you still have to fight like hell.'" The motion contains critical information about the January 6 investigation and was previously under seal, with Trump attempting to keep it undisclosed. Prosecutors assert that the central theme of Trump's actions was his and his co-conspirators' knowingly false claims of election fraud.