In a development that could have significant implications for his political future, former U.S. President Donald Trump has been criminally charged for the third time in four months. The charges, which come amidst his potential run for the presidency in 2024, could result in prison time for the former president.
The charges against Trump include conspiracy to defraud the U.S., a crime punishable by up to five years imprisonment. This charge pertains to allegations of "dishonesty, fraud, and deceit" in an attempt to obstruct and influence the 2020 presidential election results.
In addition to this, Trump is also facing charges for conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. This charge is closely related to the previous one and pertains to allegations of corrupting the joint session of Congress, during which Joe Biden was to be certified as the official winner of the 2021 election.
The storming of the Capitol Building in Washington DC on January 6, 2021, by thousands of Trump supporters while the election votes were being counted, has been a focal point of these charges. Special Council Jack Smith stated that the attack on the Capitol was "fuelled by lies" – specifically, Trump's lies and propaganda.
Trump has been accused of inciting the large group of rioters in his speech before the storming of the Capitol. However, in his defense, Trump wrote on his Truth Social media site: "I did nothing wrong, was advised by many lawyers."
If convicted of the charge of conspiracy against rights, Trump could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years. This charge relates to the former president's alleged attempts to rig the outcome of the 2020 election.
The fourth and largest charge that Trump is facing is conspiracy to defraud the U.S., a crime punishable by up to five years imprisonment. This charge relates to the breaking of laws that prohibit attempts to obstruct or interfere with government functions by "deceit, craft, trickery, or at least by means that are dishonest".
It is expected that Trump's attorneys will file a motion to dismiss the case in the coming months. However, experts have clarified that it is very rare for a motion to dismiss to be passed in criminal cases.
In addition to these charges, Trump is also due to stand trial in New York in March 2024 for a charge that relates to hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. Furthermore, he is due to stand trial in Florida in May 2024, in a federal case that stems from the exposure of classified documents being found at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
As Trump's legal troubles continue to mount, the question of whether he will face prison time becomes increasingly relevant. Legal experts suggest that the Justice Department is likely to push for incarceration if Trump is convicted.