Former US President Donald Trump is facing a new legal challenge regarding the handling of classified documents following his departure from the White House. Media reports suggest that Mr. Trump, aged 76, is confronting seven charges related to unauthorized retention of classified files, although the details of the charges have not been publicly disclosed, according to The Independent.
This marks the second indictment against Mr. Trump and represents the first-ever federal indictment of a former president. Despite these charges, legal experts affirm that they will not impede Mr. Trump’s potential candidacy for the presidency in 2024.
In a recent post on the social media platform Truth Social, Mr. Trump maintained his innocence and revealed that he has been summoned to appear in a federal court located in Miami, Florida. The court hearing, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, will involve his arrest and the formal announcement of the charges.
Expressing his disbelief, Mr. Trump wrote, “I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former president of the United States.” He added a gloomy assessment of the nation, stating, “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!”
Jim Trusty, Mr. Trump’s attorney, disclosed that the former president has received information about the charges through a summons document. According to Trusty, the charges include conspiracy, false statements, obstruction of justice, and illegal retention of classified documents under the Espionage Act. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has chosen not to comment on the matter, and the indictment has yet to be made public.
An indictment is an official document that outlines the specific charges against an individual, providing them with notice of the alleged criminal offenses committed. As preparations are made for Mr. Trump’s journey to the Miami courthouse, the Secret Service will coordinate with his staff and security officers.
Since his appointment by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith has been reviewing the evidence related to the documents case. Last year, a search was conducted at Mr. Trump’s Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, during which approximately 11,000 documents were seized. Among these documents, around 100 were classified, including some labeled as top secret.
Recent reports indicated that prosecutors obtained an audio recording in which Mr. Trump acknowledged retaining a classified document after leaving the White House in January 2021. Federal law prohibits the removal or possession of classified documents by officials, including the president, in unauthorized locations.
Legal experts assert that Mr. Trump’s ability to run for the presidency will remain unaffected despite the indictment. “He can be indicted any number of times, and it won’t stop his ability to stand for office,” explains David Super, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center. Super further notes that even if convicted in the documents case, Mr. Trump could still pursue a political candidacy.
Opinion polls currently indicate that the property and reality TV mogul is the leading candidate among Republicans vying for the White House in 2024. As Mr. Trump sent out a fundraising email with the subject line “BREAKING: INDICTED,” several prominent Republicans voiced their support for him.
House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy deemed it “unconscionable for a president to indict the leading candidate opposing him.” He vowed that House Republicans would hold accountable those responsible for what he referred to as a brazen abuse of power.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is also a contender for the 2024 nomination, stated, “We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation.” He pledged that his administration would ensure accountability within the Department of Justice (DOJ), eliminate political bias, and prevent future abuses of power.
Vivek Ramaswamy, another candidate in the race, pledged to promptly pardon Trump on January 20, 2025, and restore the rule of law in the country. Conversely, Asa Hutchinson, another candidate, emphasized that Mr. Trump’s alleged actions should not define the nation or the Republican Party.
Moreover, a separate investigation overseen by Jack Smith, a former war crimes attorney known for his thoroughness, is examining efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which Mr. Trump lost. Mr. Trump already faces an upcoming trial in New York next year after pleading not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment to a adult video star.