Indictment opens in Trump documents case

MIAMI (AP) — Follow live updates on former President Donald Trump, who has been indicted for mishandling classified documents at his Florida mansion. The indictment marks the first time in U.S. history that a former president faces criminal charges from the federal government that he once oversaw. If Trump is convicted, he could go to jail.

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Democrats want a peaceful process.Republican Party Speaker Says Case Could Disrupt Nation

Democratic leaders in both Congresses have called on Trump supporters and detractors alike to let the lawsuit against Trump proceed peacefully in court.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of the New York Democratic Party and House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also of New York, said in a statement that Trump’s indictment “was made legally without outside political or ideological intervention.” It must be carried out through formal procedures,” he said.

“We encourage Trump supporters and critics alike to ensure that this case proceeds peacefully in court,” Schumer and Jeffries said.

This contrasted with California House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who suggested the nation’s core legal values ​​were being eroded.

“This is going to disrupt this country because it’s about the roots of equal justice for all that are not being seen today,” McCarthy said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “And we’re not going to stand by it.”

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Secret Intelligence Service Prepares for Trump Court Appearance

The US Secret Intelligence Service is gearing up for Trump’s appearance in federal court in Miami on Tuesday after a grand jury indicted him on 37 felony counts related to the handling of classified documents.

Spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said that in connection with President Trump’s arrival, agencies “will not seek any special favors other than those necessary to ensure the continued security of the former president.” rice field.

He added, “Like other sites visited by protected persons, the Secret Service is constantly working with the necessary agencies to ensure that protection requirements are met. We are in compliance with Florida law. We have the utmost confidence in the professionalism and commitment to security shared by our executive partners.”

Trump’s April 4 arraignment in the New York case pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, but was flooded with media and protesters, resulting in multiple roadblocks, additional security checks. , and court operations were shut down for an extended period of time, except for Mr. Trump. afternoon.

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Things to know:

— Trump faces a series of investigations in various states and venues as he campaigns for his return to the White House

— Trump’s case is unlike any other politician known to have classified documents

— Who is Jack Smith, the Special Counsel investigating Trump’s role in keeping classified documents and trying to overturn the 2020 election?

— Trump will remain the front-runner for the Republican Party in 2024, despite legal troubles and Republican strife

Q: Will the indictment undermine Trump’s standing with voters?

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Law applies to ‘everyone’, says special counsel Trump

The Justice Department special counsel who filed Trump’s charges outlined the charges against the former president in his first public statement, saying the country “has a set of laws that apply to everyone.”

Jack Smith spoke briefly to reporters in Washington on Friday but did not respond to questions.

“Compliance with the rule of law is a fundamental principle of the Department of Justice, and our commitment to the rule of law sets an example for the rest of the world,” Smith said.

He said prosecutors wanted a speedy trial and were “very much looking forward” to hearing the case.

Trump is scheduled to appear in court in South Florida on Tuesday.

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Trump keeps classified documents in bathrooms, club showers, listed in indictment

According to the indictment, Trump stored classified documents in a variety of locations at his Florida mansion, including bathrooms and showers, ballrooms, warehouses, offices and bedrooms.

Prosecutors have said that between January 2021, when President Trump’s term ends, and the August 2022 raid, “tens of thousands of members and guests” were found at Mar-a-Lago’s “active social club.” He pointed out that he was visiting They claimed that “despite” Trump kept the documents in “banquet halls, bathrooms and showers, office spaces, bedrooms and warehouses.”

Part of Trump’s box was stored in one of Mar-a-Lago’s gilded ballrooms for two months, according to the indictment. Photos included in the indictment show boxes stacked in rows on a ballroom stage.

The indictment also shows a picture of a box spilled in the vault, which contains “confidential/secret” information, meaning information available only to members of the Intelligence Alliance of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Released to the United States, FVEY” was included in the document. usa. A confidential document has been redacted in the photo.

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Lawyer said he suggested Trump remove harmful documents

An indictment released Friday showed Trump’s lawyers identifying and foldering 38 documents marked “confidential” on June 2, 2022, without knowing the records had been moved. It also says it was sealed with clear duct tape given to him by Trump. Follower Walt Nauta. Afterwards, the squire took his lawyer to see the former president.

“Did you find anything? Is it bad? … OK?”

The attorney told federal officials that he had discussed folders of classified materials with President Trump and discussed what to do with the materials. The lawyer told officials that when the lawyers discussed taking the materials out, Trump gestured to the lawyers in a way that suggested they identified “the really bad stuff” and said, “Look, pick it up.” The attorney clarified that President Trump had not made any such directive clear other than to file an “execution call.”

The attorney told authorities he took nothing from the folder and immediately contacted the FBI and another Trump attorney. On June 3, Trump’s second attorney acted as official custodian of the records on Trump’s behalf and submitted the materials to the FBI, according to the indictment.

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The indictment alleges that officials moved the box at Trump’s direction.

According to the indictment, Nauta allegedly moved “about 64 boxes” of documents from the Mar-a-Lago vault to the former president’s residence “at the direction of President Trump.” According to the indictment, Nauta’s conduct took place between May 23, 2022 and June 2, 2022.

The total includes “about 30 boxes” Nauta allegedly moved on June 2, the day Trump’s defense team was expected to investigate the cash. . Nauta’s actions that day took place hours after he had a brief phone conversation with President Trump, prosecutors said. Neither Trump nor Nauta disclosed to the former president’s lawyers that Nauta moved the contents of the vault, according to the indictment.

Trump met with one of his lawyers later that day, and Nauta escorted the lawyer to the vault to review the documents, according to prosecutorial timelines.

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Indictment Alleges Trump Showed Documents to Others

The indictment, released Friday, outlines two circumstances in which President Trump allegedly showed the documents to others.

The first occurred during a meeting with reporters at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, in which he described a “planned attack” against him by federal officials and said the information was “still He allegedly admitted that he knew it was a secret.

In a subsequent meeting with Political Action Committee representatives, President Trump showed “classified maps related to military operations” and admitted that they “shouldn’t be shown to the delegates and they shouldn’t get too close.” said the prosecutor’s office. .

In the next paragraph, prosecutors said Trump referred to media leaks during his 2017 presidency press conference, saying leaking classified information was an “illegal process” and those involved “should be ashamed.” I’m paying attention to that.

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Trump faces 37 felony charges

President Trump faces 37 felony counts related to mishandling classified documents.

The indictment, released Friday, alleges he described a Pentagon “offensive plan” and shared classified maps related to military operations.

The documents mark the first official DOJ confirmation of a criminal case against Trump stemming from the storage of hundreds of documents at his home in Mar-a-Lago, Fla. It is.

Also indicted along with Trump was Walt Nauta, a Trump aide who was caught on surveillance camera removing the box in Mar-a-Lago.

The indictment accuses Trump of improperly removing dozens of boxes from the White House and bringing them to Mar-a-Lago, many of which contained classified information.

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Indictment alleges Trump shared classified maps with Pentagon ‘attack plan’

According to the indictment released Friday, Trump described the Pentagon’s “attack plan” and shared classified maps related to military operations.

The documents mark the first official DOJ confirmation of a criminal case against Trump stemming from the storage of hundreds of documents at his home in Mar-a-Lago, Fla. It is.

Trump revealed the indictment in a Truth social post Thursday night and in a video he recorded.

The indictment accuses Trump of improperly removing dozens of boxes from the White House and bringing them to Mar-a-Lago, many of which contained classified information.

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Biden Remains Silent About Trump Indictment

As the White House continues to avoid the political ramifications of the case, President Joe Biden adamantly declined to comment on President Trump’s indictment, saying he had not spoken to Attorney General Merrick Garland on the matter. .

Biden, who was traveling in North Carolina on Friday, said of Garland shortly after the indictment against Trump was sealed and made public. i’m not going to talk to him ”

The president added, “I do not comment on what happened,” and repeated a similar response when pressed.