Former President Donald Trump was dealt another blow on Thursday as he faced new legal charges. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy to violate constitutional rights.
These charges stem from his alleged involvement in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This latest development adds to the mounting legal challenges for Trump.
Trump appeared at the Elijah Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C., pleading not guilty to the charges. However, before the hearing, Manhattan federal prosecutors gained access to video testimony that Trump had given during a defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll in May.
In that case, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation and was ordered to pay $5 million to Carroll. The prosecutors have been seeking access to this video testimony for the upcoming criminal trial in March 2024. This trial accuses Trump of orchestrating hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in an attempt to silence their alleged affair during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Back in March, Trump was indicted in the Daniels case and faced 34 felony charges of falsifying business records. He pleaded not guilty and has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Trump has labeled investigations against him as part of a politically motivated “witch hunt” by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
While the two Manhattan cases are unrelated, federal prosecutors argued that gaining access to Trump’s taped deposition from the Carroll case is crucial. They believe that Trump’s comments about sexual misconduct are linked to his alleged efforts to silence Daniels.
On the other hand, Trump’s attorneys contended that the evidence in the Carroll case should remain confidential under a protective order. The legal battle continues as Trump faces the mounting pressure of multiple legal challenges.
Despite these setbacks, Trump has remained defiant. He continues to deny any involvement in the alleged crimes and maintains his innocence. As his trials loom, the former president is gearing up for what promises to be a challenging legal battle.
