Central Coast congressman calls Trump ‘ringleader’ of Jan. 6 insurrection after indictment
Former president Donald Trump was indicted on four federal criminal charges Tuesday for his role in interfering with the 2020 presidential election — and a Central Coast congressman said he supports the indictment.
“Over the past two and a half years, more than a thousand people have been charged for their role in attacking our democracy and attempting to overturn the 2020 election,” Rep. Salud Carbajal said in a news release. “Today, that list now includes the ringleader.”
A Washington, D.C., grand jury charged the former president 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.
Special Counsel Jack Smith lead the election probe that resulted in the indictment.
In the indictment, the special counsel’s office repeatedly asserts that Trump knew that he had lost the election and pursued a conspiracy to overturn the election results anyway — characterizing Trump’s scheme as a threat to American democracy that had been respected for over 130 years.
“The defendant’s knowingly false statements were integral to his criminal plans,” the indictment reads, to obstruct Congress’ certification of the vote on Jan. 6 and “interfere with others’ right to vote and have their votes counted.”
Trump now faces three indictments as he heads into campaign season for the 2024 presidential election. Polls show Trump is currently the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Carbajal, who represents Santa Barbara County and parts of San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties, condemned Trump’s actions on Jan. 6.
“Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the result of his last election led to multiple schemes to deny the will of American voters and obstruct its legal and democratic result, including the January 6 insurrection,” Carbajal said in the news release. “These charges – while hardly a reason to celebrate – prove once again that in our nation, no one involved in such conspiracies is above the law.”
This story was originally published August 1, 2023 at 5:54 PM.
