Former U.S. President Donald Trump has accused the Department of Justice (DOJ) of violating its own policies by filing a superseding indictment against him just before the upcoming presidential election. The indictment, led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, is a revised version of an earlier one related to Trump’s involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump argues that this action is an attempt to influence the election outcome.
Trump’s complaint, posted on Truth Social, centres on what he describes as a DOJ policy that forbids actions which could impact an election within 60 days of voting. He stated, “It is DOJ policy that the Department of Justice should not take any action that will influence an election within 60 days of that election – but they just have taken such action." Trump called for all charges to be dismissed, labelling them “Election Interference” and “Comrade Kamala/Biden Hoaxes.”
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While the DOJ has guidelines preventing actions timed to affect elections, the actual written rules do not specifically reference a 60-day period. Trump appears to be referencing an informal “blackout” period traditionally observed ahead of elections to avoid any perception of partisanship.
The new indictment filed by Jack Smith's team is shorter and is said to align with a recent Supreme Court decision, handed down on July 1, that clarified the scope of protected presidential actions. According to Smith's 36-page document, the revised indictment reflects "the Government’s efforts to respect and implement the Supreme Court’s holdings and remand instructions in Trump v. United States."
Trump has described the indictment as “an act of desperation” by Smith, asserting that it is an attempt to "save face" following the Supreme Court ruling. He further characterised the move as an effort to divert public attention from what he calls the “catastrophes” caused by Vice President Kamala Harris, such as issues related to immigration, inflation, and international tensions.
As the legal battles continue, the debate over the DOJ’s actions and the political implications surrounding them is likely to intensify, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.
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