DOJ Rejects Trump's Election Lie, Urges Judge to Dismiss Case

Special counsel prosecutors in the federal election subversion case against Donald Trump stated that they don't need to prove whether Trump believed he lost the 2020 election, but rather that he knowingly spread lies about the election results as part of a criminal scheme to stay in power. The prosecutors plan to show that Trump lied repeatedly about the election and used deceit to attack the election, Congress's certification of the vote, and Americans' rights to have their votes counted. They will also point to specific baseless claims made by Trump and his allies, arguing that they were informed the claims were false. Trump's lawyers argue that his statements are protected by the First Amendment, but prosecutors contend that the First Amendment does not protect speech used in fraud or conspiracy. The government also rejected Trump's claim that he cannot face criminal charges after being impeached and acquitted by Congress, stating that he was never previously placed in jeopardy and that the criminal prosecution does not charge the same offense as his impeachment trial. Prosecutors urged the judge to reject Trump's claim of political persecution and to recognize his motion as a meritless effort to evade the indictment's allegations.