WASHINGTON – Former US president Donald Trump, who faces federal and state charges for allegedly trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to US President Joe Biden, insists he had “every right” to interfere in the election.

“Whoever heard you get indicted for interfering with a presidential election where you have every right to do it?” Trump said in a Fox News interview that aired on Sept 1.

A federal indictment accuses Trump of defrauding the US by preventing Congress from certifying Mr Biden’s victory and depriving voters of their right to a fair election. He faced a revised federal indictment in August accusing him of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Trump faces similar charges in Fulton County, Georgia, where he was also charged with racketeering, which is used to target members of organised crime groups and carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

That case, which is on hold while a state appeals court weighs the district attorney’s role, stems from a Jan 2, 2021, phone call in which Trump urged Georgia’s top election official Brad Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to reverse his narrow loss in the state. Mr Raffensperger declined to do so.

Trump, who is the current Republican nominee for president, has not said whether he would unconditionally accept the results of the Nov 5 election if his Democratic rival, US Vice-President Kamala Harris, wins. REUTERS