Prosecutors have submitted a new indictment in the federal criminal case against Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, following a Supreme Court decision that granted the former president significant immunity, according to recent court documents.
The new indictment was introduced to a grand jury that had not previously considered evidence related to this case. The documents indicate that the indictment “reflects the Government’s efforts to respect and implement the Supreme Court’s holdings and remand instructions.”
In the latest court filing, Prosecutor Molly Gaston announced that the Justice Department would not require Trump to appear in person for arraignment on the newly issued indictment. The Department stated it would work with Trump’s legal team to develop a joint proposal for proceeding with the case. Judge Tanya Chutkan has requested an update by Friday.
Special counsel Jack Smith has been in discussions with other Justice Department officials for several weeks regarding the allegations against Trump, which claim he orchestrated a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election, disenfranchising millions of voters. This alleged scheme culminated in violent attacks on law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol three years ago.
Trump has consistently refuted all charges, with his legal team asserting that his statements and actions leading up to January 6, 2021, constituted legitimate inquiries into potential electoral fraud. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority has largely supported Trump, granting him absolute immunity for actions deemed “core” to his official responsibilities.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump characterized the new indictment as an attempt to revive what he considers a “dead” Witch Hunt, calling the charges against him “ridiculous” and urging their dismissal.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, delineated a portion of the case in which Trump was accused of misusing the Justice Department to propagate unfounded fraud theories. However, the ruling left several essential questions for a trial judge to address.
Chutkan has requested advice from both Smith’s and Trump’s attorneys on how to proceed. It is unlikely that the case will be tried before the upcoming Election Day in November. Should Trump succeed in the case, he may instruct his appointees at the Justice Department to dismiss it next year.