Special Counsel Report Says Trump Would Have Been Convicted in Election Case [View all]

Last edited Tue Jan 14, 2025, 01:41 AM - Edit history (2)

Source: New York Times

Special Counsel Report Says Trump Would Have Been Convicted in Election Case

"But for Mr. Trump's election and imminent return to the presidency, the office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial," the report said.


In August 2023, the special counsel Jack Smith charged Donald J. Trump with three intersecting conspiracy counts accusing him of plotting to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. Doug Mills/The New York Times

By Alan Feuer and Charlie Savage
Alan Feuer and Charlie Savage write about legal issues, including the former criminal cases against President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Jan. 14, 2025, 12:37 a.m. ET

Jack Smith, the special counsel who indicted President-elect Donald J. Trump on charges of seeking to cling to power after losing the 2020 election, said in a final report released early Tuesday morning that he believed the evidence was sufficient to convict Mr. Trump in a trial if his success in the 2024 election had not made it impossible for the prosecution to continue.

"The department's view that the Constitution prohibits the continued indictment and prosecution of a president is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the government's proof or the merits of the prosecution, which the office stands fully behind," Mr. Smith wrote.

He continued: "Indeed, but for Mr. Trump's election and imminent return to the presidency, the office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial."

The Justice Department delivered the 137-page volume -- representing half of Mr. Smith's overall final report, with the volume about the classified documents case still confidential -- to Congress just after midnight Tuesday morning.

{snip}

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Alan Feuer covers extremism and political violence for The Times, focusing on the criminal cases involving the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and against former President Donald J. Trump. More about Alan Feuer

Charlie Savage writes about national security and legal policy. More about Charlie Savage

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/us/politics/trump-special-counsel-report-election-jan-6.html

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For once, it pays to be an old man and have to get up during the night.

Her's the report. Hat tip, JCF at Joe.My.God.

https://www.joemygod.com/2025/01/chatter-away-overnight-open-thread-2479/#comment-6629577485

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/76c2c1e8fe2e5ae7/d2d77a9c-full.pdf

From Lazycrockett:

https://www.joemygod.com/2025/01/chatter-away-overnight-open-thread-2479/#comment-6629577040

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25486132-report-of-special-counsel-smith-volume-1-january-2025/#document/p1

Also from Lazycrockett:

https://www.joemygod.com/2025/01/chatter-away-overnight-open-thread-2479/#comment-6629577194

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.260101/gov.uscourts.mad.260101.61.0.pdf

From DreadPikathulhu:

https://www.joemygod.com/2025/01/chatter-away-overnight-open-thread-2479/#comment-6629576909

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25486132-report-of-special-counsel-smith-volume-1-january-2025/#document/p4