Former US President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to four federal charges stemming from his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Special counsel at the Justice Department Jack Smith said the 2021 attack on Congress by Trump supporters was “an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy” that was “fuelled by lies” from Mr Trump.
The indictment alleged Trump and his Republican allies repeatedly lied about the results two months after losing to Joe Biden in the November 2020 election and pressured state election officials to take action to help him cling to power.
According to reports, the counts against Trump include;
Conspiracy to defraud the US, to deprive citizens of their right to have their votes counted, and to obstruct an official proceeding.
Trump, who is being arrested for the third time in four months, faces the prospect of lengthy prison terms if found guilty on charges against him.
The most severe charges, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to obstruct, both of which carry a maximum of 20 years behind bars.
The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States has a maximum sentence of five years, while conspiracy against rights has a maximum sentence of 10 years, as per CNN.
“This is election interference at its finest,” said Trump’s legal spokesperson Alina Habba, speaking outside the court.
“President Trump is under siege in a way that we have never seen before. Donald Trump and his legal team, and everyone on his team, will continue to fight – not for him, but for the American people.”
She claimed Trump had advised his supporters who disagreed with the election result to “go patriotically and peacefully protest.”
Mr. Trump was previously charged in New York with falsifying business records in connection with an alleged payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.
He has also been charged with several felony counts in Florida, accused of illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and refusing government demands to return them.
He has pleaded not guilty in both cases, which are set for trial next year.
