What to Know About Tanya Chutkan, the Judge Overseeing Trump’s 2020 Election Case

Judge Chutkan has worked on cases relating to the Jan. 6 breach before, often handing down harsh prison sentences.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in a file photo. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts via AP

Former President Donald Trump was indicted on Aug. 1 on multiple felony charges in connection with his alleged attempts to dispute the results of the 2020 election and the events of the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S Capitol.

A grand jury convened by special counsel Jack Smith to investigate the former president and his allies’ alleged attempts to dispute the election results, charged Mr. Trump with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding—the certification of the electoral vote—and conspiracy against the rights of citizens.