In the classified records probe, Trump was charged with more counts
Reacting to the latest charges against him from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation, former President Donald Trump slammed the Justice Department for “abuse” and suggested that the charges were politically motivated, stating, “This is what you get” for leading the polls for the White House in 2024.
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Trump, who currently holds the top position in the 2024 GOP presidential primary field, faced an additional count of willful retention of national defense information and two new obstruction counts as part of a new “superseding” indictment resulting from Smith’s investigation into his alleged improper retention of classified records.
Back in June, Trump was indicted on 37 counts related to Smith’s investigation, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and false statements. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Speaking to News Digital just after learning of the latest indictment, Trump described the charges as “ridiculous” and accused the prosecutors of engaging in “prosecutorial misconduct used at a level never seen before.” He emphasized that the timing of the charges coincides with his strong position in numerous polls as the leading Republican candidate, indicating that it may be politically motivated.
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In Trump’s view, the Justice Department’s actions constitute “election interference at the highest level,” and he expressed concern about the harassment faced by his family, company, and himself.
Regarding the recent indictment, the Justice Department announced that it added one defendant and four charges to the prior indictment filed against Trump and Waltine Nauta in the Southern District of Florida. The new counts include one additional charge of willful retention of National Defense Information for Trump, and Carlos de Oliveira, from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was added to the obstruction conspiracy charges.
Furthermore, the superseding indictment accuses Trump, De Oliveira, and Nauta of two new obstruction counts based on alleged attempts to delete surveillance video footage at The Mar-a-Lago Club in the summer of 2022. De Oliveira is also charged with false statements and representations in a voluntary interview with the FBI on Jan. 13, 2023.
Reacting to the additional charges, a Trump campaign spokesperson dismissed them as part of a “desperate and flailing attempt by the Biden Crime Family and their Department of Justice to harass President Trump and those around him.” The spokesperson further suggested that the investigation was an “illegal witch hunt” orchestrated by Jack Smith to find an alternative candidate to run against President Biden.
Interestingly, it was revealed that classified records were also found in President Biden’s office at the Penn Biden Center last year, originating from his time as vice president during the Obama administration and his tenure in the U.S. Senate.
At the time, Attorney General Garland initially selected U.S. Attorney John Lausch to conduct a review of classified records discovered at the Penn Biden Center. Subsequently, more classified records were found at President Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware home in December, but these discoveries were not made public until this year.
Later, Garland appointed U.S. Attorney Robert Hur as a special counsel to investigate Biden’s alleged improper retention of classified records, taking over the DOJ investigation from Lausch. However, the current status of Hur’s investigation into Biden remains unclear.
It was also revealed that classified records were found at former Vice President Mike Pence’s home in Indiana. As per News’ report last month, the Justice Department completed its investigation into the matter and decided not to charge Pence.
Meanwhile, Special Counsel Smith is conducting an investigation into potential interference by Trump or other officials and entities with the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election, including the certification of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021.
Recently, Trump’s legal team met with Smith and his team at the special counsel’s offices, anticipating a possible federal indictment resulting from that probe. Though there was no specific timing given about a potential indictment during the meeting, sources reported that an indictment might happen at some point.
After the meeting concluded, Trump took to his Truth Social account to express his perspective, stating that his attorneys had a productive meeting with the DOJ. He maintained that he did nothing wrong and was advised by numerous lawyers while expressing concern that an indictment against him could harm the country. He urged against trusting the media and asserted that no clear indication of notice about an indictment was given during the meeting.
Trump announced last week that he received a target letter from the Justice Department, which also requested his appearance before a federal grand jury. He stated that he expected “an arrest and indictment.”