Special Counsel Jack Smith announced a second federal indictment against the former president
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s latest indictment against former President Donald Trump was a cause for celebration for many left-wing Twitter users on Tuesday.
Trump was indicted on four federal charges out of the probe, including 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 based on Smith’s investigation into the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Smith alleged that "for more than two months following election day on November 3, 2020," Trump "spread lies that there had been outcome-determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won."
"These claims were false, and the Defendant knew that they were false," Smith alleged. "But the Defendant repeated and widely disseminated them anyway — to make his knowingly false claims appear legitimate, create an intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger, and erode public faith in the administration of the election."
Jack Smith, US special counsel, speaks during a news conference in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
After Trump predicted an indictment from Smith earlier that day, many users responded to the news with great anticipation and cheer.
"Happy #TrumpIndictment Day! Waiting for Jack Smith to drop in for victory drinks. I’ve already started popping the champagne," former MSNBC analyst Malcolm Nance cheered with a photo of himself celebrating with a drink in a restaurant.
Happy #TrumpIndictment Day! Waiting for Jack Smith to drop in for victory drinks. I’ve already started popping the champagne 😂. pic.twitter.com/8FjBvSilE5
— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) August 1, 2023
"Happy 3rd Indictment Day to all who celebrate! #TrumpIndictment," YouTuber Sarah O’Connell tweeted.
Happy 3rd Indictment Day to all who celebrate! #TrumpIndictment
— Sarah O'Connell (@SarahO_Connell) August 1, 2023
Blue Amp Strategies CEO Cliff Schecter wrote, "Ok said this was the one thing that would get me to break my Tweetless Tuesday. Happy pending indictment 112th Trump indictment everyone!"
Ok said this was the one thing that would get me to break my Tweetless Tuesday. Happy pending indictment 112th Trump indictment everyone! https://t.co/ExX7u3fnl7
— Cliff Schecter (@cliffschecter) August 1, 2023
Journalist Sophia A. Nelson said, "This is a good day for the Republic, it shows the checks and balances work. We will be okay as long as the institutions hold."
This is a good day for the Republic, it shows the checks and balances work. We will be okay as long as the institutions hold. https://t.co/pfr6Yacuh1
— Sophia A. Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) August 1, 2023
"RT if you agree that Jack Smith is an American hero," political strategist Rachel Bitecofer commented.
RT if you agree that Jack Smith is an American hero.
— Rachel Bitecofer 📈🔭🇺🇲🇺🇦 (@RachelBitecofer) August 1, 2023
Celebrity hair stylist Elgin Charles agreed, "Jack Smith is a true American hero."
Jack Smith is a true American hero. 🇺🇲
— Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) August 1, 2023
"Hey folks… when reading the co-conspirator descriptors in the #trump #indictment don’t sleep on Bernie and Jenna. Time for a celebratory bourbon. Cheers to those who know the facts. Cheers to those who want stable democratic institutions. Cheers to the cool cats," former Virginia Rep. Denver Riggleman tweeted.
Hey folks… when reading the co-conspirator descriptors in the #trump #indictment don’t sleep on Bernie and Jenna.
— Denver Riggleman (@RepRiggleman) August 1, 2023
Time for a celebratory bourbon.
Cheers to those who know the facts. Cheers to those who want stable democratic institutions.
Cheers to the cool cats. pic.twitter.com/4ZObm65lWU
Former U.S. President Donald Trump was indicted on four federal charges out of the probe related to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
This is the second federal indictment the former president faces out of Smith’s investigation. Trump, who leads the 2024 GOP presidential primary field, has already pleaded not guilty to 37 counts related to his alleged improper retention of classified records from his presidency.
Those charges include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements. Trump was charged with an additional three counts as part of a superseding indictment out of that probe last week.
Legal experts, however, were more skeptical about the announcement. George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley criticized the latest indictment as an example of Smith "stretching" the law to target Trump.
This marked the second federal indictment against Trump brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
"[Smith] may be stretching the law a bit, so that's why we're going to be looking at things like witness tampering to see how much new evidence he has," Turley said. "You'll notice that not being discussed in all of this is a conspiracy for incitement [or] seditious conspiracy."
In March, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted Trump in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
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Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to