Trump charged with criminal conspiracy

Future of US democracy hangs on a 45-page PDF and a jury…

If Jack Smith has a thousand-yard stare, there’s a reason for that. He made his legal reputation prosecuting war criminals. So we have to assume that piercing gaze has already looked into the heart of darkness.

Now, as prosecutor in the indictment of Donald Trump for conspiracy to undermine American democracy, he’s staring into a deeper abyss. Smith’s investigation into Trump has produced four counts of potential criminality. Trump, he alleges:

• Conspired with others to obstruct the electoral college vote at state level, by initiating the selection of fraudulent college members.
• In addition he obstructed certification of the electoral college vote;
• He conspired with others to do so;
• And conspired with others to “injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate” voters to prevent them exercising their right to vote.

Trump denies the charges and has the right to be considered innocent unless proven guilty. But that, in black and white, poses the question that will decide the future of American democracy:

Did Trump — by mobilising a mob, promoting fake legal opinions, promoting fraudulent electoral college wannabes…