Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election result, culminating in the January 6 riot at the US Capitol building.
Prosecutors said the attack on Congress by Trump supporters in early 2021 was “an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy” that was “fuelled by lies” from the former US president.
A 45-page indictment has alleged Trump and his Republican allies pushed false claims that the November 2020 election was rigged, in the two months after he lost to Democrat rival Joe Biden.
It is also alleged that the 77-year-old pressured his vice president Mike Pence and state election officials to take action to help him cling to power.
The four counts against Trump include conspiracy to defraud the US, to deprive citizens of their right to have their votes counted, and to obstruct an official proceeding – interrupting Congress as it was certifying Mr Biden as president.
The most serious charges, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to obstruct, both carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
The charge of conspiracy to defraud the US has a maximum term of five years, while conspiracy against rights has a maximum of 10 years.
