What Jack Smith said regarding Donald Trump's third indictment
On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted former President Donald Trump of trying to overturn the 2020 election results, which resulted in the attacks on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
As a result of an investigation headed by special counsel Jack Smith, Trump was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.
After the indictment was unsealed, Smith spoke to reporters and said the Department of Justice remains committed to ensuring accountability to those criminally responsible for the acts that occurred on Jan. 6, 2021.
“The attack in our nation’s capital on January 6, 2021, was an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy, and as described in the indictment, it was fueled by lies,” Smith said. “Lies by the defendant targeted at obstructing the bedrock function of the U.S. government nation’s process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of a presidential election.”
Smith also said that the indictment is only an allegation and that the defendant in the trial is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Smith reported he will seek a “speedy trial” and encouraged members of the public to read the indictment.
CNN contributed to this report.