Trump charges closely align with Jan. 6 investigative committee criminal referrals

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on four charges by special counsel Jack Smith who is investigating attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. 

Trump is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, two counts related to obstructing an official proceeding of Congress, and Conspiracy to violate rights. 

These charges closely align with a criminal referral the House January 6th investigative committee made to Jack Smith back in December. 

Take a look at them side by side. The House committee suggested Trump should be charged with: conspiracy to defraud the United States, Obstruction of an official proceeding, Conspiracy to make a false statement, and “Incite,” “Assist” or “Aid and Comfort” an Insurrection. 

Smith is bringing the first two charges, as of right now, he has not charged Trump with the last two. 

The Democrat who lreced Donald Trump’s second impeachment and sat on the committee said the indictment is a vindication. 

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-MD: “I feel very pleased that this is such a vindication of the rule of law in America and that this grand jury saw what the January 6 committee saw.”

Raskin said it’s possible Smith did not bring “incite, assist or aid and comfort an insurrection because it has not been constitutionally tested by the Supreme Court. 

Other Democrats, like Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, put out statements that read: “Our Founders made clear that, in the United States of America, no one is above the law – not even the former President of the United States.” 

Brian cut this line: Trump and Pelosi strongly disliked each other and did not get along. 

While Democrats and former Vice President Mike Pence support the charges, Republicans say they are concerned about freedom of speech. That includes Rudy Giuliani who was Trump’s attorney at the time of the riot and is believed to be unnamed co-conspirator number one. 

Rudy Giuliani: “Violating the free speech of an American citizen. Never mind whether he was president or not. He could be anybody. He could be a homeless person. You don’t get to violate people’s first amendment rights Smith.” 

The indictment came the same day a NYT Siena College poll found that Trump and President Biden are tied in a hypothetical rematch. 

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene summed up Trump’s loyal following in a tweet that stated: I will still vote for Trump even if he’s in jail.

Trump is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday. Straight from DC, I’m Ray Bogan.