Former US President Donald Trump will be formally charged at a court hearing on Thursday on charges of plotting to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

The charges against the former president include conspiring to defraud the United States government, conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiring against rights, and obstruction and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding. Here's what we know about the upcoming proceedings:

At 4 pm Eastern time (9 pm BST), Trump is expected to appear before the court, where prosecutors in Washington will present the four conspiracy and obstruction counts, and a judge will determine bail conditions.

The magistrate judge, Moxila Upadhyaya, will also establish a schedule for pre-trial motions and discovery, setting the groundwork for the legal proceedings ahead.

Both the prosecution and defense teams are likely to file motions in the future, seeking to shape the admissible evidence and legal arguments for the trial, which might be months away.

In anticipation of Trump's defense strategy, his lawyer John Lauro has already characterized the indictment as an "attack on free speech and political advocacy." He suggests that Trump's claims about election fraud were protected under the constitutional right to freedom of expression.

As the day progresses, all eyes will be on the courtroom, and the nation waits to see how this high-profile legal battle unfolds.