New York: In a historic development, federal prosecutors have charged former President Donald Trump with multiple counts related to the retention of national security documents and obstruction of justice. The indictment, filed in federal district court in Miami, remains under seal, leaving the exact nature of the charges unclear.
However, sources familiar with the matter indicate that the charges include willful retention of national defence information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document, corruptly concealing a document, concealing a document in a federal investigation, engaging in a scheme to conceal, and false statements.
The news of the indictment took Trump and his inner circle by surprise, despite his lawyers being informed that he had been designated a "target" in the criminal investigation last week. Trump confirmed the indictment on his Truth Social media platform and expressed his disbelief, stating, "I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States. I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!"
The criminal investigation into Trump's retention of classified documents began over a year ago when the National Archives referred the case to the Department of Justice. They had discovered over 100 classified documents mixed with presidential records in 15 boxes that Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago after leaving office.
Officials were alarmed to find that some of these materials amounted to national defence information, controlled by the Espionage Act. Prosecutors have been examining whether Trump knowingly retained these documents and took steps to conceal them after the justice department issued a subpoena for their return.
Witnesses have been questioned about Trump's potential display of national security materials at Mar-a-Lago and whether he waved around classified documents despite no longer being authorized to possess them.
The investigation also delves into documents relating to potential US military action against Iran, as Trump referenced such a document in a meeting at Bedminster in July 2021. Prosecutors have presented an Iran document to witnesses to ascertain whether they were shown it by Trump or others.
The obstruction of justice aspect of the investigation centres on Trump's failure to fully comply with the subpoena, leading to suspicions that it was a deliberate act of obstruction to retain the classified documents even after leaving office.
Last June, Trump's lawyer Evan Corcoran found 38 classified documents in Mar-a-Lago's storage room but claimed no further materials were present. However, the FBI later seized an additional 101 classified documents, raising questions about the thoroughness of the initial search.
The charges mark a significant escalation in legal peril for Trump, who was previously indicted on state charges in New York for his involvement in hush-money payments to an adult film star. Furthermore, he remains under investigation for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
As Trump prepares to surrender himself to authorities in Miami next Tuesday, the political landscape braces for the fallout. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called the charges a "dark day" on Twitter, wrongly suggesting that the Biden administration was responsible for the indictment. With Trump's legal troubles deepening, the implications for his potential 2024 presidential bid and the broader political landscape remain uncertain.