Los Angeles Times

Doyle McManus: Jack Smith narrows possible charges against Trump to the essentials. That's a good thing

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, on June 10, 2023.

We don't know what specific charges special counsel Jack Smith will pursue if former President Donald Trump is indicted on allegations of attempting to overturn the 2020 election. We can't even be certain that there will be an indictment, although it looks imminent after Smith sent Trump a target letter last week.

But thanks to "persons briefed on the matter," presumably Trump's leaky lawyers, we know which federal statutes are likely to form the basis of Smith's case, and they suggest what some of his charges will be.

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