The Justice Department on Thursday charged former President Donald J. Trump with federal crimes for allegedly mishandling secret information that he kept after leaving office and obstructing the government’s efforts to recover them. The seven accusations against the former president include conspiracy to obstruct, deliberate retention of records, and making false statements. He declared that he would turn himself into the police on Tuesday.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trump posted on Truth Social that he will be required to appear in federal court in Miami. The Justice Department did not comment and did not immediately make the indictment public. The grand jury’s indictment, which was presented in criminal District Court in Miami, marks the first time a former president has been charged with a criminal offense. According to a person close to Mr. Trump and his post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Mr. Trump is expected to surrender to the authorities on Tuesday.
“I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election. I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!” Trump wrote on the social media platform. “This is indeed a DARK DAY for the United States of America. We are a Country in serious and rapid Decline, but together we will Make America Great Again!” he added.
It is the second indictment of Trump, who is running for president in the 2024 Presidential elections. According to a source familiar with the situation, at least one of the charges against former president Donald Trump would be a conspiracy charge, CNN said.
Since he was appointed to the position in November, special counsel Jack Smith has been in charge of directing the investigation into Trump’s handling of sensitive information. It’s not clear from Trump’s post what charges he has been indicted on.
Still, the indictment is a historic one, the first-ever federal criminal charges brought against a former president. Trump has offered various defenses, including that he had the right to take the documents and that he could unilaterally declassify them without going through any formal process.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly characterized the investigation as a politically motivated witch hunt, and in recent weeks his lawyers have sought to raise what they say are issues of prosecutorial misconduct.
