Special counsel Jack Smith has unveiled startling new details about former President Donald Trump's purported efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
ABC News reported that a 165-page court filing submitted on Wednesday outlines what prosecutors describe as Trump's "increasingly desperate" attempts to cling to power after losing the election.
The filing alleges that Trump privately admitted to family members that the election outcome was irrelevant, stating, "It doesn't matter if you won or lost the election. You still have to fight like hell." This revelation stands in stark contrast to his public claims of widespread voter fraud.
According to the special counsel's filing, Trump privately expressed skepticism about some of the election fraud allegations made by his allies. Prosecutors claim that the former president described lawyer Sidney Powell's voter fraud claims as "crazy" despite publicly promoting similar arguments.
The document alleges that advisers repeatedly informed Trump that his fraud allegations were baseless. Despite this, he continued to spread these claims to the public, state election officials, and even his own vice president.
Smith's team argues that Trump's actions went beyond mere political rhetoric, stating that he "resorted to crimes to try to stay in office" after losing the 2020 presidential election.
The filing details accusations that Trump and his allies attempted to sow doubt and create chaos at polling places even before Election Day. Prosecutors allege that in one instance, a campaign employee encouraged a colleague to "make them riot" at an ongoing vote count in Detroit.
Smith's team contends that these efforts were part of a broader strategy to undermine the legitimacy of the election results. The filing suggests that Trump had laid the groundwork for his post-election actions well in advance, including plans to declare victory prematurely.
According to prosecutors, Trump was aware that the results were unlikely to be finalized on Election Day, yet he proceeded with his victory declaration despite warnings from multiple advisers.
The special counsel's filing draws a direct line between Trump's alleged actions and the events of January 6, 2021. Prosecutors argue that when legal challenges and attempts to manipulate the electoral process failed, Trump turned to inciting violence.
Smith's team describes Trump as directly responsible for the "tinderbox that he purposely ignited on January 6." They allege that his speech before the Capitol riot was designed to inflame his supporters and motivate them to march on the Capitol.
The filing characterizes this as Trump's "last hope" to prevent the certification of Joe Biden as president, suggesting that the former president was well aware of the potential consequences of his actions. In response, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung issued a statement calling the case "a partisan, Unconstitutional Witch Hunt that should be dismissed entirely."
The special counsel's filing presents a detailed account of Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. It accuses the former president of intentionally deceiving the public while privately acknowledging the legitimacy of his defeat. The document connects Trump's actions to the January 6 Capitol riot, describing it as the culmination of his attempts to retain power.
