On July 18, former U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that he had been notified by special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the investigation into the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, DW reports.
Trump stated on his Truth Social account, the letter from Smith indicated that he was now considered a "target" of the investigation. Trump interpreted this notification as a sign that he might face federal criminal charges in connection to the violence that occurred during the Capitol riot.
While the specific charges are not yet disclosed, this notification marks the most explicit indication to date that Trump could potentially be charged with federal crimes related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Typically, such a letter from a special counsel signifies that prosecutors have evidence linking the individual to a crime and might precede an indictment.
The events on January 6, 2021, involved more than 2,000 of Trump's supporters storming the U.S. Capitol while lawmakers were gathered for a joint session of Congress to confirm President Joe Biden's victory in the Electoral College.
In November 2022, the Justice Department appointed special counsel Jack Smith to oversee two criminal investigations. One investigation focuses on the Capitol riot and centers on Trump's alleged efforts to interfere with the transfer of power. The other investigation is a separate case related to the possible mishandling of classified documents.
In June, Trump was charged in the case concerning his handling of classified documents and his alleged efforts to obstruct that investigation. He received a letter ahead of being charged on 37 counts of wilfully retaining hundreds of documents at his Florida home after leaving office.
Trump says that the recent letter from Smith allowed him "a very short four days" to report to a grand jury, which he believes may indicate an imminent arrest and indictment. However, a spokesman for Jack Smith declined to comment on whether Trump indeed received the letter.
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