Donald Trump received a letter from Special Counsel Jack Smith indicating that the former president may soon face criminal charges for the Jan 6 insurrection. The letter from Smith's team cites three potential charges Trump could face: deprivation of rights, conspiracy to commit an offense against or defraud the United States, and tampering with a witness. The potential charges against Trump include deprivation of rights based on Reconstruction-era laws preventing interference with citizens' rights, witness tampering similar to Capitol rioters' cases, and conspiracy for plotting to violate U.S. law. Trump's alleged involvement in a conspiracy has been raised in the House select committee's investigation of the January 6 events. The charges seem primarily centered on plotting to steal the election rather than the physical assault on the Capitol itself. Trump denies any wrongdoing and claims the investigation is politically motivated.
