Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court

Former President Donald Trump is set to make a courtroom appearance in Washington, D.C. this Thursday afternoon, facing charges related to the 2020 presidential election. The indictment includes allegations of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction, and conspiracy against the right to vote and have votes counted.

This will mark the third time Trump faces criminal charges, making him the third former president to do so. Security has been tightened in the area around the courthouse in anticipation of potential protests from both supporters and detractors of the polarizing former president.

The indictment stems from a comprehensive investigation by special counsel Jack Smith’s office into Trump’s efforts to contest the election results and retain power. It alleges that Trump engaged in three criminal conspiracies aimed at undermining the fundamental functions of the U.S. government’s electoral process.

Trump, who is currently the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, vehemently denies any wrongdoing and accuses Smith of “election interference” by pursuing criminal charges while he seeks a return to the White House.

This is the second indictment brought against Trump by Smith in two months, with the first one involving 37 counts in Florida for allegedly mishandling national security information and obstruction.

Additionally, Trump previously faced arraignment in a New York criminal court, pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts related to alleged business record falsification during his 2016 campaign. A prosecutor in Fulton County, Georgia, is also contemplating charges against Trump for his attempts to overturn the election results there, potentially presenting a case to a grand jury in the near future.