Trump’s Attorney claims a targeted investigation into the handling of classified documents. The investigation adds to legal troubles as Trump campaigns for the 2024 White House run.
Image source: REUTERS
Former US President Donald Trump’s legal team has claimed that he is the target of an investigation regarding his handling of classified materials, according to a person familiar with the matter.
This development comes just two days after his attorneys met with officials from the Justice Department to discuss the case. The investigation, led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, centres around his refusal to return classified documents following his defeat in the 2020 election.
Trump denies indictment claims
Responding to the news, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to assert that he had not been informed of any impending indictment.
In a staunch denial, the former US President declared, “No one has informed me about any pending indictment, and the reason is simple—I have committed no wrongdoing.” his forceful response was published on Wednesday.
Impending announcement of possible charges
According to undisclosed sources, Special Counsel Jack Smith is in the final stages of his investigation into Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents. It is anticipated that Smith will announce potential criminal charges within the upcoming days or weeks
As revealed by a search warrant issued last year, the prosecutors involved in the case have been considering various charges about his actions. These charges include potential allegations of obstruction of justice, Espionage Act violations, and government document mishandling.
Timing of notification and potential charges
While Trump’s legal team was notified about the investigation on Monday, it is important to note that the timing of such notifications does not necessarily predict when charges will be brought.
Image source: The Washington Post
Attorney David Schoen, who previously represented his ally, Steve Bannon, explained that such notifications can occur either at the beginning or the end of an investigation.
Trump dismisses investigations
As the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump has repeatedly dismissed the investigations as politically motivated.
He has been scrutinised by multiple ongoing investigations, including a federal grand jury examining his retention of classified materials after leaving the White House in 2021. Another criminal investigation is focused on allegations of Trump and his allies’ efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Seized Documents:
In August 2022, investigators seized approximately 13,000 documents from his Mar-a-Lago estate, with 100 marked as classified.
Trump has mounted a defence against allegations of retaining classified documents by asserting that he had declassified them during his tenure as president.
However, he has yet to provide substantial evidence to support this claim, and his legal team has refrained from making such arguments in official court filings.
Expanding legal woes
Trump’s legal troubles continue to mount. In April, he pleaded not guilty to felony charges of falsifying business records about hush money paid to a porn star before the 2016 presidential race.
Moreover, in May, a federal jury in Manhattan ruled against him in a civil lawsuit, ordering him to pay $5 million in damages for sexually abusing former Elle magazine columnist E.
Jean Carroll and defaming her as a liar. A criminal investigation by a county prosecutor in Georgia is underway, examining Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state.
As Trump gears up for a potential 2024 White House run, news of the investigation into his handling of classified documents adds to his legal challenges. Special Counsel Jack Smith is expected to announce possible criminal charges shortly, which may further impact his political aspirations.
#TrumpInvestigation #ClassifiedDocuments #LegalTroubles #SpecialCounsel #CriminalCharges #ObstructionOfJustice #EspionageAct
