The Montgomery County Young Democrats applaud the Department of Justice’s indictment of Donald Trump for his illegal efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and block the peaceful transition of power. For months, Trump spread lies and attempted to foment a coup to subvert our democracy, and this indictment is a welcome sign that he will be prosecuted. 

Trump lost the 2020 presidential election and has been indicted on four counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. The January 6th riot, which he instigated and encouraged, was an appalling assault on democratic values and was intended to undo the election results. Trump further tried to exploit the resulting chaos and violence to benefit himself and cling to a power, turning himself into an autocrat. 

As the indictment says, “the Defendant also pursued unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting the election results.” For months, Trump pressured local election officials to undo voting results in their states, tried to force Vice President Mike Pence to halt the counting of electoral votes, and lied that the election had been stolen.

We young Democrats welcome this indictment since no one, especially not a President, is above the law. Donald Trump should be prosecuted and imprisoned for his sedition and lawbreaking. However, he did not act alone. The indictment mentions a half-dozen co-conspirators, including lawyers inside and outside of government who attempted to serve as Trump’s enablers and overturn the election. These individuals should also be prosecuted and imprisoned for their crimes so nothing like this ever happens again. 

The Montgomery County Young Democrats support the indictment of Trump and urge that he be held liable for his crimes.