Donald Trump has been charged with attempting to overturn the result of the 2020 US Government after he was defeated by Joe Biden.
Following an inquiry into the events of January 6th 2021, the former US President has been indicted four times.
It is alleged that Mr Trump indulged in a conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstructed official proceedings, tampered with a witness and conspired against the rights of US citizens.
Mr Trump has long denied wrongdoing and posted on his Truth Social microblogging site that the charges were about politics, not law.
“Why didn’t they bring this ridiculous case 2.5 years ago?” he said.
“They wanted it right in the middle of my campaign, that’s why!”
In a statement, the Trump campaign compared the charges to the persecution suffered by citizens in authoritarian dictatorships.
"The lawlessness of these persecutions of President Trump and his supporters is reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the former Soviet Union, and other authoritarian, dictatorial regimes," a spokesperson claimed.
"These un-American witch hunts will fail."
Jack Smith, the counsel who led the inquiry into January 6th, described the events of that day as “an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy.”
Special Council Jack Smith. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live News"As described in the indictment it was fuelled by lies," he said.
He noted under US law Mr Trump is presumed innocent until proven guilty and promised "a speedy trial".
Mr Trump is due to appear before a court in Washington DC tomorrow.
Other charges
In two separate cases, the former President has been indicted for allegedly stealing classified documents from the US Government and allegedly paying hush money to a porn star during the 2016 election.
In both cases, he also denies wrongdoing.
Mr Trump remains the favourite to win the Republican nomination for President next year and a recent poll conducted for the New York Times and Siena College found him tied in a matchup against incumbent Joe Biden.
Main image: Donald Trump
