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| Donald Trump indicted over classified documents case | Donald Trump indicted over classified documents case |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The charges include conspiracy, false statements and illegally retaining classified documents, says Mr Trump's attorney | The charges include conspiracy, false statements and illegally retaining classified documents, says Mr Trump's attorney |
| Former US President Donald Trump has been charged over his handling of classified documents after he left the White House. | Former US President Donald Trump has been charged over his handling of classified documents after he left the White House. |
| Mr Trump, 76, faces seven charges including unauthorised retention of classified files, US media reported. The charges are not yet public. | Mr Trump, 76, faces seven charges including unauthorised retention of classified files, US media reported. The charges are not yet public. |
| It is the second indictment of Mr Trump and the first ever federal indictment of a former president. | It is the second indictment of Mr Trump and the first ever federal indictment of a former president. |
| He is campaigning to make a return to the White House in 2024. | He is campaigning to make a return to the White House in 2024. |
| Legal experts say the indictment will not limit Mr Trump's ability to run for the presidency again. | Legal experts say the indictment will not limit Mr Trump's ability to run for the presidency again. |
| Follow live: Reaction as Trump faces historic second indictment | Follow live: Reaction as Trump faces historic second indictment |
| What happens next? | |
| In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Mr Trump said he was innocent and had been summoned to appear at a federal court in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday afternoon, where he will be arrested and hear the charges against him. | In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Mr Trump said he was innocent and had been summoned to appear at a federal court in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday afternoon, where he will be arrested and hear the charges against him. |
| "I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former president of the United States," he wrote. | "I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former president of the United States," he wrote. |
| He added: "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: "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!" |
| Mr Trump's attorney Jim Trusty told CNN the former president had received details of the charges in a summons document. | Mr Trump's attorney Jim Trusty told CNN the former president had received details of the charges in a summons document. |
| He said they include conspiracy, false statements, obstruction of justice, and illegally retaining classified documents under the Espionage Act. | He said they include conspiracy, false statements, obstruction of justice, and illegally retaining classified documents under the Espionage Act. |
| The Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to comment and the indictment has not been publicly released. | The Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to comment and the indictment has not been publicly released. |
| An indictment is a document that sets out details of charges against a person, ensuring they have notice of alleged criminal offenses. | An indictment is a document that sets out details of charges against a person, ensuring they have notice of alleged criminal offenses. |
| The Secret Service will meet Mr Trump's staff and his security officers to plan his journey to the Miami courthouse. | The Secret Service will meet Mr Trump's staff and his security officers to plan his journey to the Miami courthouse. |
| Watch: How much do you know about classified documents? | Watch: How much do you know about classified documents? |
| Watch: How much do you know about classified documents? | Watch: How much do you know about classified documents? |
| Special prosecutor Jack Smith has been considering evidence in the documents case since he was appointed to oversee it by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November. | Special prosecutor Jack Smith has been considering evidence in the documents case since he was appointed to oversee it by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November. |
| Last year, Mr Trump's Florida resort Mar-a-Lago was searched and 11,000 documents were seized, including around 100 marked as classified. Some of these were labelled top secret. | Last year, Mr Trump's Florida resort Mar-a-Lago was searched and 11,000 documents were seized, including around 100 marked as classified. Some of these were labelled top secret. |
| There were reports last week that prosecutors had obtained an audio recording of Mr Trump in which he acknowledged keeping a classified document after leaving the White House in January 2021. | There were reports last week that prosecutors had obtained an audio recording of Mr Trump in which he acknowledged keeping a classified document after leaving the White House in January 2021. |
| It is against US law for federal officials - including a president - to remove or keep classified documents at an unauthorised location. | It is against US law for federal officials - including a president - to remove or keep classified documents at an unauthorised location. |
| Legal experts say Mr Trump will still be able to enter the White House race. | Legal experts say Mr Trump will still be able to enter the White House race. |
| "He can be indicted any number of times and it won't stop his ability to stand for office," says David Super, a professor at Georgetown University Law Centre. | "He can be indicted any number of times and it won't stop his ability to stand for office," says David Super, a professor at Georgetown University Law Centre. |
| Mr Super noted that Mr Trump could continue to run for office even if convicted in the documents case. | Mr Super noted that Mr Trump could continue to run for office even if convicted in the documents case. |
| What are the criminal charges against Donald Trump? | |
| The property and reality TV mogul is currently the frontrunner among Republican candidates for the White House, according to opinion polls. | The property and reality TV mogul is currently the frontrunner among Republican candidates for the White House, according to opinion polls. |
| As Mr Trump issued a fundraising email with the subject line "BREAKING: INDICTED", several leading Republicans voiced their support for him. | As Mr Trump issued a fundraising email with the subject line "BREAKING: INDICTED", several leading Republicans voiced their support for him. |
| Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, said it was "unconscionable for a president to indict the leading candidate opposing him". | Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, said it was "unconscionable for a president to indict the leading candidate opposing him". |
| "House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponisation of power accountable," he wrote on Twitter. | "House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponisation of power accountable," he wrote on Twitter. |
| Mr Trump's rival for the 2024 nomination, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said: "We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation. | Mr Trump's rival for the 2024 nomination, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said: "We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation. |
| "The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponisation once and for all," he added. | "The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponisation once and for all," he added. |
| Vivek Ramaswamy, who is also in the running, said he would "commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025, and to restore the rule of law in our country". | Vivek Ramaswamy, who is also in the running, said he would "commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025, and to restore the rule of law in our country". |
| But another candidate, Asa Hutchinson, said Mr Trump's alleged actions "should not define our nation or the Republican Party". | But another candidate, Asa Hutchinson, said Mr Trump's alleged actions "should not define our nation or the Republican Party". |
| A separate probe into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which Mr Trump lost, is also being overseen by Jack Smith, a former war crimes attorney who is known as a dogged investigator. | A separate probe into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which Mr Trump lost, is also being overseen by Jack Smith, a former war crimes attorney who is known as a dogged investigator. |
| Mr Trump became the first former president to be charged with a crime this April, after he pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records over a hush-money payment to a porn star. | Mr Trump became the first former president to be charged with a crime this April, after he pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records over a hush-money payment to a porn star. |
| He faces a trial in that case in New York next year. | He faces a trial in that case in New York next year. |
| Additional reporting by Madeline Halpert | Additional reporting by Madeline Halpert |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| US politics | US politics |
| United States | United States |