Now that Jack Smith's court filing has dropped, here is a roundup of coverage

This is the court filing that Donald Trump did not want made public. I've only had some time to check out the coverage of Jack Smith's filing earlier today, but what I've heard and read makes clear that there is damning evidence that Donald Trump bears responsibility for the January 6th insurrection that could have resulted in a coup, reinstalling Trump by fiat in the process. The reason we are even dealing with this is that Jack Smith, in his capacity as Special Prosecutor, had to demonstrate that the charges against Donald Trump were due to his actions as a candidate running for re-election, rather than in his official capacity as President. Today's filing is especially noteworthy given last night's VP debate, in which Trump's running mate, JD Vance, refused to acknowledge that Trump lost the 2020 election. Vance got to try his hand at gaslighting his audience last night ahead of a healthy reminder that Trump not only lost but that Trump tried to illegally overturn the election results. People died because of Trump's actions. People experienced life-altering injuries. Anyone in the Capitol Building during the events of January 6th was in danger. Period. Our democracy was in danger, period. So, now let's turn to the coverage, starting off with Chris Hayes:


Here's Rachel Maddow's reaction:

 

And here is Nicole Wallace and guests discussing the filing when it was first made public, characterized as "repeated bombshells" which strikes me as apt:

 

Here is more from Andrew Weissman this afternoon:

And here is how PBS Newshour covered this developing story:

Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel posted an open thread with a link to the new redacted brief, which I recommend reading. Marcy prefers time to offer a thorough and considered take on developments like this one, so my guess is I'll see something on her blog either when I am getting breakfast or later in the day after work. 

I know the bloggers at Lawyers Guns Money are also trying to process the trove of new information as well. Scott Lemieux refers to the latest filing as a reminder that the US Supreme Court has sided with the insurrectionists in each of the cases surrounding Trump's attempted coup on January 6, 2021. 

It will take a bit of time for all of this breaking news to truly sink in, but I am grateful that the voters are getting the facts about what Donald Trump did in the way of criminal actions to remain in the White House even after it was blindingly obvious that he had lost. The American public deserved to see Trump on trial for the attempted self-coup, but this might be the next best thing, and it comes just in the nick of time. Election Day is only a little more than a month away. The reality is that what Trump did and what Trump is capable of as a would be dictator was anti-American, and it is crystal clear that he will not let little inconveniences like the law or the well-being and safety of others get in the way of his criminal behaviors to cling to power no matter the consequences. The American public deserves far better than Trump in office. Trump belongs behind bars.

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