Former President Donald Trump is set to face U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Thursday as he is indicted on federal felony charges related to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Judge Chutkan, known for her tough approach in punishing rioters involved in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, has consistently handed down harsher sentences than recommended by prosecutors, believing that prison can serve as a deterrent against future insurrections.

Judge Chutkan's commitment to imposing significant prison sentences stems from her belief that it is necessary to deter future attempts to violently overthrow the government. She has expressed concern about reports of anti-democratic factions plotting violence in the future and has emphasized the need to protect the peaceful transition of power. In a separate January 6 case, Chutkan ruled against Trump's request to block the release of documents to the House committee investigating the riot, asserting that Trump could not claim executive privilege indefinitely.

As a district judge, Chutkan has sentenced at least 38 individuals convicted of Capitol riot-related crimes, all of whom received prison terms ranging from 10 days to over five years. Notably, the sentences handed down by Chutkan have often matched or exceeded prosecutors' recommendations, even in cases where prosecutors did not seek any jail time.

However, Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump nominee, has criticized the Justice Department for being too harsh on Capitol rioters compared to individuals arrested during racial injustice protests following the murder of George Floyd. Chutkan rebutted McFadden's argument, stating that comparing the actions of peaceful civil rights protesters to those of a violent mob seeking to overthrow the government is a false equivalency.

Trump's latest indictment alleges a "criminal scheme" to undermine the results of the 2020 election, including charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. The case, assigned to Chutkan, raises fundamental questions about the viability of American democracy and will test the limits of presidential power and the consequences for attempting to subvert the democratic process.

Trump's defenders argue that he had legitimate reasons to contest the election results and that he was simply pursuing his legal options. However, multiple advisers, officials, and authorities informed him that his allegations were baseless. Despite this, he persisted in making false claims, leading to his indictment for attempting to defraud the United States.

The outcome of this trial will have significant implications for the future of American democracy. It is uncertain whether the justice system or the electoral system will decide Trump's fate first, but the true verdict on the Trump presidency is yet to come.