conspiracy against the United States
Trump in court: The third time and yet a first
By Christopher Wittich, Washington, DC
8/3/2023 8:58 am
The indictment against Trump will be read today. Never before in US history has a president been indicted for a crime while in office. It will be exciting to see how the alleged co-conspirators, who have not yet been charged, behave. And how far voters and party support Trump.
The scene of the crime and the dock are rarely so close together. When Donald Trump’s motorcade pulls up at the courthouse in Washington DC this Friday, the ex-president can see the top of the Capitol – the site that will mark the sad climax of a crime against democracy on January 6, 2021.
Never before in American history has a US President been charged with a crime while in office. Today will be the day. At 10:00 p.m. German time, the case “The United States against Donald J. Trump” is called. The indictment awaits the 45th President of the USA. The 77-year-old is already familiar with that. It’s the third time this year.
Attorney Jack Smith, the special counsel who prepared and drafted this indictment, submits 45 pages listing why Trump is charged with conspiracy against the United States. It’s a tight paper considering the House Inquiry Committee filled 845 pages for its final report on the storming of the Capitol.
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Smith’s prosecution becomes exciting in this case. He points to six co-conspirators who have not been charged at this time. On the one hand, this shows the hierarchy: Trump is primarily responsible. Second, Smith could make the other six key witnesses. Although Smith does not name the names in his indictment, it is clear who is meant. Rudy Giuliani is one of the six people. It’s easy to imagine that the former New York Mayor and Trump adviser could make a deal with Smith if there was a chance for him to avoid indictment. And that could put Trump in particular trouble.
It will also be interesting to see what this process does to the Republicans. Should it come to this: your presidential candidate convicted of conspiracy against their own country? Trump hardly has to fear a real attack from his competitors. All his pursuers are far behind him in the race for the presidential candidacy. Trump’s competitor Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida, has already responded to Trump’s criticism of the justice system. He said, “A DC jury would also indict and convict a ham sandwich as long as it’s a Republican ham sandwich.”
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But could the accusation be a cleft fungus? The New York Times published a poll of registered voters this week. 43 percent want Joe Biden, 43 percent want Trump, 16 percent are undecided. This group is of most interest as the draws will have a huge role in the outcome.
So far there is no trace of Trump supporters in Washington. The police say: We are prepared. She secures the area around the courthouse on Constitution Avenue, the Secret Service protects the former President and the Marshall Service will keep order in the courthouse.
Today, once again, America is adding a new chapter to its history: the indictment of a President in federal court for a crime committed during his tenure. One thing is already clear: in the next few months Trump will be oscillating between the court and the campaign stage. And will try to do one thing for the other.