The Department of Justice (DOJ) has unsealed the federal indictment against former President Donald Trump and an aide, marking the first time a former president has faced federal charges. The indictment centers around the alleged mishandling of over 100 classified documents. Trump is expected to appear in a Miami federal courthouse on Tuesday afternoon.
Trump faces 37 counts on seven charges, including false statements, conspiracy to obstruct, and willful retention of national defense information. The indictment also details various locations at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida where Trump allegedly stored classified documents, including in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, an office space, his bedroom, and a storage room.
Trump’s personal aide, Waltine Nauta, was also indicted on six counts, including conspiracy to obstruct and false statements. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
The investigation began last year when the National Archives alerted the FBI about government documents returned by Trump that were marked classified. Trump and his allies have tried to frame the indictment as politically motivated, with Trump arguing that he is being treated unfairly compared to President Biden.
BREAKING: The Federal indictment against Donald Trump and Waltine Nauta has been unsealed. https://t.co/XVUBVkSV0W
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 9, 2023
Each of the charges carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and prison time of five to 20 years. Special counsel Jack Smith is expected to make a statement about the indictment later today. The federal indictment against former President Donald Trump and his associate Walt Nauta contains 37 counts on seven charges against Trump, including:
- 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information: This involves the alleged mishandling of more than 100 classified documents. The indictment alleges that Trump moved to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida numerous boxes containing official government documents, some of which were marked classified at the time. These documents were allegedly stored in various locations at the estate, including a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, an office space, his bedroom, and a storage room.
- One count of conspiracy to obstruct justice: The indictment suggests that Trump directed one of his attorneys to “hide or destroy” documents called for by a grand jury subpoena.
- One count of withholding a document or record.
- One count of corruptly concealing a document or record.
- One count of concealing a document in a federal investigation.
- One count of scheming to conceal.
- One count of false statements and representations.
The indictment made public on Friday details two instances where Trump is alleged to have revealed confidential documents to others. The first instance was during a discussion with a journalist at his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. In this meeting, he reportedly shared information about the government’s “plan of attack” against him, effectively admitting that he was aware this information was still confidential.
In a subsequent meeting with a delegate from his political action committee, Trump is said to have shown “a classified map related to a military operation.” He reportedly acknowledged that he should not be showing this map to the delegate and warned them not to get too close.