New indictment narrows focus on Trump's private actions

Special prosecutor Jack Smith has filed a new indictment against Donald Trump, focusing on the former president's attempts to remain in power despite losing the election. This streamlined indictment considers the Supreme Court ruling from July 1, which granted Trump partial immunity.

The new indictment, approved by the grand jury, still charges Trump with allegations related to his actions aimed at overturning the election results and staying in power. However, it is limited to Trump's private actions.

Mention of the pressure exerted by the then-president on the Department of Justice to support Trump's narrative of a "stolen" election—despite the lack of evidence—has disappeared from the original indictment. In a precedent-setting ruling at the beginning of July, the Supreme Court determined that the president's official actions—those related to his core duties as head of state—are protected by "absolute" immunity. The court recognized that this includes the president's communications with members of his administration.

The new indictment—which is 9 pages shorter than the original—focuses on the actions of Trump and his associates conducted in their private capacity.

The new indictment was filed 10 weeks before the elections, 1.5 weeks before the cutoff date, which excludes the possibility of charging political candidates. Despite this, it is practically impossible for the trial to commence before the November presidential elections.

Trump responded to the prosecutor's action on his social media platform, TRUTH Social, by sharing a post suggesting that if he wins the election, he will fire the prosecutor and drop the charges against himself.