Donald Trump faces new indictment over attempt to overturn 2020 election result

Donald Trump is facing a new indictment over his alleged attempt to overturn the result of the 2020 Presidential election.

The indictment was revealed in a filing by the government’s special counsel.

It was in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in July that Mr Trump – and all US presidents – must be given immunity for the majority of their acts in office.

Our Washington Correspondent Siobhan Kennedy joins us from outside the Supreme Court.

Siobhan Kennedy: This new indictment relates to the most serious charges, criminal charges brought against Donald Trump by the US Department of Justice here in Washington, DC, that he allegedly tried to subvert the results of the 2020 election, culminating, of course, in the bloody 6 January riot here on the Capitol. When those charges, that indictment, was originally brought last August, Donald Trump appealed saying that his act should be immune from prosecution because he was president at the time. Now that worked its way through the courts and ultimately ended up here at the Supreme Court, which agreed with Donald Trump, saying that his and any president’s official acts should be immune from prosecution, and that he and any president could only be found criminally liable for the unofficial acts. So last night, the special counsel in this case, Jack Smith, refiled that original indictment, taking out the acts that he believes will now be deemed to be official. Most notably, Donald Trump’s attempts to allegedly coerce Department of Justice officials at the time to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Smith has kept in the acts that he believes are unofficial acts of Donald Trump that can be criminally charged. Notably, the pressure he put on local and state officials and his vice president, Mike Pence, to ultimately not certify the results of the 2020 election.

Cathy Newman: And in a sentence, what has been Donald Trump’s reaction?

Siobhan Kennedy: He said it’s more witch-hunt. Of course, he will undoubtedly appeal this. It could end up again at the Supreme Court. And whatever happens, Cathy, this case will not be heard between now and the November election.