Donald Trump, The First US President To Be Indicted Twice
When Donald Trump thought he would be setting records as a president, he probably didn’t think it would be for a number of indictments he would receive. Sources have confirmed that the 45th President of the United States is facing a second indictment, this time on federal charges concerning his management of classified information after leaving office.
According to the information received, he is scheduled to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern Time for his arraignment.
The charges Trump is expected to face are related to the storage of sensitive government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
“The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social Platform.
These federal charges have further intensified Trump’s legal troubles, particularly as the 2024 presidential race gains momentum, with Trump being considered the front-runner for the Republican nomination. Already facing criminal charges in New York for his alleged involvement in a hush-money payment to a porn star just before the 2016 election, Trump now finds himself in a precarious legal situation.
Additionally, a local prosecutor in Georgia has announced plans to present criminal charges in August related to Trump’s attempts, alongside his allies, to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Throughout these multiple investigations, Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and accused prosecutors of pursuing him for political reasons.
This recent federal indictment is the result of an investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith, a former war-crimes and public-corruption prosecutor appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee two inquiries concerning Trump following his announcement of another presidential bid. Smith’s team has been actively investigating the storage of documents at Mar-a-Lago, as well as the efforts by Trump and his allies to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election and the subsequent events of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Recent subpoenas and grand jury testimonies indicate that the focus of the investigation is on Trump’s post-election fundraising activities.
The documents probe originated in early 2022 when the National Archives discovered 15 boxes of documents and other items at Mar-a-Lago that should have been transferred from the White House. Among these documents were over 100 classified records. The Justice Department subsequently issued a subpoena in an attempt to recover any additional classified documents that might still be at the Florida property.
Despite initial claims by a Trump representative that all remaining documents had been handed over, the FBI obtained evidence suggesting the presence of more papers on the premises. In August of the same year, agents executed a search warrant, leading to the recovery of hundreds of additional documents. As part of the documents probe, Smith’s team has interviewed numerous individuals associated with Trump’s Florida residence, ranging from high-ranking political aides to housekeeping and maintenance staff.
Recently, key pieces of evidence have come to light in the investigation, including an audio recording in which Trump acknowledges possessing a classified Pentagon document regarding a potential attack on Iran, as well as extensive notes from one of his lawyers regarding the inquiry. In an attempt to prevent an indictment, Trump’s legal team met with officials from the Justice Department on June 5.
Trump has defended his decision to retain the documents, suggesting that he declassified them during his presidency. However, no evidence has been provided to support this claim, and court filings indicate that his lawyers have not made this argument either.
Just this week, it was revealed a Trump employee at his luxurious Mar-a-Lago residence reportedly caused a major flood, inadvertently inundating a room housing crucial computer servers containing surveillance video logs. While the motive behind the flooding remains unclear, federal prosecutors investigating Trump’s handling of classified documents have deemed the incident suspicious.
In a separate inquiry, a special counsel is currently examining the presence of classified documents from President Biden’s time as vice president at his home and office. Similarly, the Justice Department concluded another investigation on June 1 regarding similar documents found at the Indiana home of former Vice President Mike Pence.
Despite these legal challenges, Trump has stated that he intends to remain in the 2024 presidential race, regardless of any potential indictments.
As the first current or former US president to face criminal charges, Trump’s legal troubles continue to mount. In May, a civil court jury in Manhattan ordered him to pay $5 million in damages for the alleged sexual abuse of former Elle magazine columnist E Jean Carroll. Trump was further accused of defaming Carroll by publicly labeling her a liar.
Information for this story was found via The Wall Street Journal and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses
