August 1, 2023. Trump was indicted for Jan 6 conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and obstruct an official proceeding. Jack Smith appeared before reporters in Washington D.C. to announce the indictment. You can see his announcement here and the full indictment.

A half hour ago, I wrote to my friend Kip Ault, an emeritus professor of science education at Lewis and Clark College. Here is part of my email to Kip.

Hi Kip,

I hope your river adventures have been good.  We will get close to the ocean next week as we travel to one of Georgia’s barrier islands for a few days in 90-degree weather.

Within days, Fulton County District Attorney, Fani Willis will announce indictments for Donald Trump and a host of others who conspired to overthrow the presidential election in Georgia.  Trump made a huge mistake when he called Brad Raffensperger.  His office happens to be in Fulton County.  Soon after Trump made the call, Willis opened an investigation into the phone call and other events that might have affected the presidential election.  

Trump chose the wrong county for his phone call.  Willis served as assistant DA for 15 years, then ran for the post in 2018 and was elected DA….She’s received many threats—letters, emails, phone calls. Six months ago, she sent letters to law enforcement agencies in Georgia to be ready for potential violence when she indicts Trump.  Her indictment is coming between now and the 15th of August…streets in downtown Atlanta are barricaded around the courthouse (only a few blocks from where I worked at GSU).  They expect an influx of pro- and anti-trumpeters.  She has 70% of the courthouse employees on virtual work and has limited court proceedings over the next two weeks.  Police and other groups went to NY and Florida when Trump was indicted to see how they managed indictment day.

I’m afraid that Trump will be the Republican nominee…. found guilty in any of the cases, he will still be able to run…as I understand it, he could even be in jail…although I doubt that will happen…The only possibility I see to keep him out of the White House in 2025, other than by vote (which will result in a conflict as bad if not worse than 2020), is if he is convicted of seditious conspiracy.  This could trigger the 14th Amendment, preventing him from holding any office in the land…but no one knows if Jack Smith will charge him with SC. Others have been charged with SC and are in jail for many years…but we’re talking about an ex-president… 

Personal email from Jack Hassard to Kip Ault

The indictment identifies four criminal charges against Donald Trump.

Finally, Donald Trump is being held accountable for his attempt to obstruct the results of the 2020 election. In The Trump Files I explain what Trump did to abuse democracy in the U.S.

I describe how Donald Trump weakened American democracy, dishonored the nation’s foundational values, and perverted the rights of people to vote. He also disparaged science and scientists, belittled the work of medical and healthcare workers, and inflicted damage on environmental protections developed over the past fifty years.

Hassard, Jack. The Trump Files: An Account of the Trump Administration’s Effect on American Democracy, Human Rights, Science and Public Health (p. 22). Northington-Hearn Publishing LLC. Kindle Edition.

I discussed Trump’s coup attempt. For more than two years, Donald Trump has skirted accountability for his attempt lead us into an authoritarian government.

Dr. Bandy X. Lee, an American psychiatrist who has written several books about Donald Trump, reminds us that “when a coup attempt goes unpunished, it becomes a training exercise.” Dr. Lee is an eminent psychiatrist whose scrutiny of Trump provided me with valid and reliable assertions of Trump’s unstable behavior. Although hundreds of American insurrectionists have been arrested and face myriad charges, the US Senate Republicans blocked an independent investigation of the January 6 riot. Republicans in Congress have, to their disgrace, even downplayed the failed coup. Trump has still not been held accountable for the coup attempt.

Hassard, Jack. The Trump Files: An Account of the Trump Administration’s Effect on American Democracy, Human Rights, Science and Public Health (p. 23). Northington-Hearn Publishing LLC. Kindle Edition.

Finally, Donald Trump is on the verge of being held accountable for the January 6 insurrection.