TOKYO – Earlier today, another indictment was leveled against former President Donald J. Trump. This time, Trump faces four separate federal charges including:
- Count One: Conspiracy to Defraud the United States
- Count Two: Conspiracy to Obstruct and Official Proceeding
- Count Three: Obstruction of, and Attempt to Obstruct, an Official Proceeding
- Count Four: Conspiracy Against Right
In the Grand Jury document that was filed in Washington, DC on August 1, 2023 there seems to be clear evidence that former President Trump tried to overturn the 2020 elections despite Trump’s promoted persuasion campaign that election fraud occurred. The Indictment accuses Trump of hatching a scheme on or about November 13, 2020, along with four co-conspirators, to subvert the election results.
Trump and his cronies had a plan to keep Trump in power even though he lost the election. First, the mafioso-like Trump regime tried to convince electors in states such as Georgia, Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin to say that Trump won the popular vote and deceive state officials by placing Trump supporting electors in place.
Second and perhaps more importantly, Former Vice President Mike Pence stood up to Trump’s pressure and bullying. Trump spoke with Pence several times and tried to convince him that there was wide spread election fraud. On December 25, 2020, Pence called Don Trump to wish him a Merry Christmas. According to the Indictment, Don Trump tried to pressure Pence into rejecting the electoral votes. Pence told Trump, “You know I don’t think I have the authority to change the outcome.”
In a further conversation between Don Trump and Pence on January 3rd, 2021 – Trump told Pence he had the absolute right to reject the electoral votes and overturn the election. Pence responded that he had no such authority and that a federal appeals court rejected a lawsuit making the claim the previous day.
In a private meeting on January 5th between Trump and Pence, Don Trump again tried to convince Pence to overturn the election results and “send it back” to the states. In that meeting, there seems to be proof the Don Trump grew frustrated with Pence and told Pence that he (Trump) would have to publicly criticize him.
On January 6th, 2021 during his speech at the Ellipse, Trump did just that. Trump said, “Pence has to be strong,” he said, “All Pence has to do is send it back to the states to recertify,” because, “we’re supposed to protect our country.” The message was clear, Pence was not protecting the country or the Constitution. According to Trump and his Twitter followers, Pence was a traitor.
In the hours that followed Trump’s speech at the Ellipse, crowds stormed the Capitol Building. At least four people died as a direct result of the planned propaganda campaign and attempted takeover of the United States Government. Elected officials who were trying to continue the world’s longest surviving peaceful democratic transition of power were placed in harms way. Democracy was threatened and a would-be Machiavellian tyrant stood poised to take over the government.
Despite being told multiple times on different occasions that he had lost the election and lacking proof of widespread election fraud, Trump continually lied to the American people and promoted his lies.
Why?
The current Indictment only says what happened during the election and the months leading up to January 6th, 2021. The Indictment doesn’t answer “why” Trump and his group of consigliere’s tried to remain in power.
On a final note, wherever your allegiances fall across the political spectrum, we have to thank people like Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney, and Jack Smith for rising above the partisan politics and keeping their vows to protect the Constitution, Democracy, and We, The People of the United States of America.
Some content courtesy of Newsweek, The New York Times, and ProPublica.
