Investigative Timeline: Examination of Trump's Endeavors to Reverse 2020 Election Outcome by the Independent Counsel
In the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, former President Donald Trump found himself at the centre of multiple investigations, led by special counsel Jack Smith. The investigations, which began in late 2022, focused on Trump's attempts to overturn the election results and related activities.
On June 8, 2023, Trump was indicted on federal charges related to the special counsel's investigation. The indictment included charges of 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. Trump pleaded not guilty to the 37-count indictment on August 3, 2023.
The Supreme Court heard arguments on whether former President Trump could be criminally prosecuted related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. However, the Court denied the special counsel's request to immediately take up Trump’s claims of immunity from prosecution in the case, allowing a federal appeals court to hear the matter first.
In a separate development, Trump was re-elected president in November 2024. The case related to the January 6 Capitol attack was dismissed without prejudice due to the Justice Department’s long-standing policy barring the prosecution of a sitting president, effectively closing the book on the case but leaving open the highly unlikely possibility of a future prosecution once Trump leaves office.
Meanwhile, the Georgia charges related to overturning the 2020 election results remain active and ongoing as of mid-2025. These charges involve Trump and 18 allies, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows. The Michigan criminal charges against individuals involved in the so-called "fake electors" scheme to overturn the 2020 results have been pending for nearly two years, with a trial decision expected in the fall of 2025.
The Supreme Court ruled that former President Trump is entitled to some immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The Court also limited the scope of a federal obstruction statute used by prosecutors to charge Trump and more than 300 defendants involved with the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Throughout the investigations, several key figures testified before the grand jury. These included Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, both former senior White House advisers, who were subpoenaed by the special counsel on February 22, 2023. Other witnesses included Trump's son-in-law and former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, and former top Trump aide Hope Hicks, who appeared before the grand jury on July 13, 2023.
As the legal proceedings continue, the special counsel's team has faced challenges. In August 2025, Jack Smith himself came under a federal investigation. Lawyers for Trump have also asked Judge Chutkan to hold Smith and members of his team in contempt of court for what they claim are "violations" of the current stay of the case as the appeals process plays out.
Despite these challenges, the investigations into Trump's actions continue, shedding light on the events surrounding the 2020 election and the efforts to overturn its results. The outcome of these investigations will undoubtedly have significant implications for American politics and the rule of law.
[1] Source: CNN [2] Source: NPR [3] Source: Detroit Free Press [4] Source: The Washington Post [5] Source: The New York Times
- The indictment against former President Donald Trump, issued on June 8, 2023, includes charges related to conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of official proceedings, and conspiracy against rights, stemming from his attempts to overturn the election results.
- Just before his 2024 re-election, a case related to the January 6 Capitol attack was dismissed due to the Justice Department’s policy on prosecuting a sitting president, leaving open the possibility of a future prosecution once he leaves office.
- The Supreme Court ruled that former President Trump is entitled to some immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken to overturn the results of the 2020 election, but they also limited the scope of a federal obstruction statute in relation to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
- Several key figures, including Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, testified before the grand jury in the investigations led by special counsel Jack Smith. These investigations aim to shed light on the events surrounding the 2020 election and its attempts to overturn the results, with significant implications for American politics and the rule of law.
